Governance effects of digital transformation: from the perspective of accounting quality

ABSTRACT With the rapid development of digital economy and technology in China, we research on whether corporate digital transformation in traditional industries can improve accounting quality as well as corporate governance. Our findings suggest that, firms proceeding more digital transformation have lower degree of earnings management and higher degree of accounting qualities. Digital transformation can improve accounting quality by reducing three types of agency costs. Specifically, digital transformation can improve corporate internal control, as well as attract more analyst tracking, to improve accounting qualities. Additional analysis suggests that, the governance effects of corporate digital transformation are more prevails in non-state firms, or weak information quality firms, as well as in long-term oriented firms. Corporate digital transformation can decrease real earnings management and stock price synchrony, increase accounting quality, reveals a positive governance effect.