Did FASB Interpretation Number 48 (FIN 48) Affect Noninnovative Corporate Investment?

Abstract

ABSTRACT As firms lower innovative investment in response to FASB Interpretation Number 48 (FIN 48), they choose between reallocating those funds to noninnovative investment, not changing noninnovative investment, or lowering noninnovative investment. Using a difference-in-differences research design, I provide evidence of the latter outcome. I also show that the results persist each year following FIN 48, are consistent across both types of noninnovative investment, and are more prominent among firms with declining research and development (R&D) and among firms not previously under continuous audit. I also provide evidence that these effects are mitigated when managers have greater incentives to reallocate investment. My findings respond to Blouin and Robinson (2014) call to understand the real effects of FIN 48 by providing evidence that it lowers firms’ incentives for noninnovative investment.