本研究目的,旨在探討公司治理機制、代理成本與盈餘品質三者間的關聯性,並提出下列問題:(1)代理成本的降低,是否意味者盈餘品質的提升。(2)公司治理機制的施行對盈餘品質的影響性。(3)公司治理機制,能否有效降低代理成本。(4)公司治理機制,能否透過減少代理問題,進而有效提升盈餘品質。 研究方法係利用結構方程模式的路徑分析,以檢驗假說,並剖析上述三者的直接、間接與總體效果。研究樣本以1998年至2003年之上市上櫃公司為對象。 其實證結果發現: (一)對代理成本的降低 內部治理機制之董事會構面,能有效降低代理問題。外部治理機制之審計品質構面與市場壓力構面,均無法有效降低代理問題。 (二)對盈餘品質的直接、間接與整體效果 (1)代理成本的降低,有助於直接提升會計基礎及市場基礎之盈餘品質。 (2)內部公司治理機制之董事會構面,對提升會計基礎及市場基礎之盈餘品質之直接效果,均為負向,且未達顯著水準;但間接效果則均為顯著正向,而對會計基礎之盈餘品質的整體影響,呈現負向但不顯著,對市場基礎之盈餘品質的整體影響,則為顯著正向。故對內部監督而言,董事會構面既無法直接有效地提高盈餘品質,降低代理成本的效果,亦無法提升財務報表的品質。惟其降低代理問題,等同對外界宣示董事會的監控有效,因而能夠提升市場對盈餘品質的反應。 (3)外部公司治理機制中,審計品質構面對盈餘品質的直接效果,均為顯著正向;但間接效果則為負向,且皆達顯著水準;其整體效果不一而族,對會計基礎之盈餘品質的整體影響,呈現正向但不顯著,對市場基礎之盈餘品質的整體影響,為負向但不顯著。因此研究結果顯示,審計品質雖然對於盈餘品質有正向的直接影響,但於因代理問題所付出的監督成本與約束成本,抵銷了本身的正向效果,使整體效果未達顯著。 市場壓力構面,對於直接提升會計基礎及市場基礎之盈餘品質的效果,雖為正向卻不顯著,而間接效果均顯著為負;但其整體效果對屬性不同的盈餘品質,呈現不同反應,對於會計基礎的整體效果均為正向,且達顯著水準,而對市場基礎之盈餘品質的整體影響正好相反,為顯著負向。因此,市場壓力對於經營階層而言,有懲罰效果,進而提升對財報品質的要求;但其對外界所發射的盈餘品質資訊內涵,卻因為無法有效降低代理問題,而導致反向效果。
The study investigates the relationship among corporate governance mechanism, agency costs and earnings quality. Governance mechanisms can be split into two categories, internal(BOD) and external(includes auditor's quality and the pressure from stock and product markets). “Agency costs” represents a latent variable based on capital and ownership structures and is a medium between corporate governance mechanism and earnings quality. Francis, LaFond, Olsson., & Schipper(2004)characterized seven attributes of earnings as accounting-based and market-based earnings qualities. The research design of this study aim at a casual-model to test the integrated effects of governance mechanism and agency costs on earnings qualities by the structure equation model. The sample consists Taiwanese listed companies for the 1998-2003 periods. My practical conclusions are as follows: (1)The greater structure of BOD can reduce the agency problems, but external mechanisms can’t. (2)For the quality of accounting-based earnings improvement, a、the lower agency costs have stronger direct effect on it. b、the greater BOD can’t raise it but has indirect effect through reducing agency costs. Overall, the effect of BOD is weak on increasing the quality of accounting-based earnings. c、the better auditor's quality only has direct effect on it. d、the larger market pressure has solely seldom effect on it. (3)For the quality of market-based earnings improvement, a、the lower agency costs have stronger direct effect on it. b、the greater BOD can’t raise it but has indirect and integrate effects through reducing agency costs. c、the better auditor's quality has direct effect on it. d、there is no effect of the market pressure on it.