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This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global scholarly research on International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption and earnings management (EM) using data retrieved from the
Scopus database spanning 2005 to 2025. A total of 398 publications were analyzed using tools such as
biblioMagika®, VOSviewer, and OpenRefine to examine publication trends, citation performance, thematic
evolution, and collaborative networks. The analysis revealed a growing academic interest, with a citation per
paper average of 20.10 and an h-index of 46, indicating strong and sustained scholarly impact. Most research
contributions emerged from the domains of Business, Accounting, and Economics, though interdisciplinary links
with Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, and Decision Sciences were also evident. Highly cited works were
clustered around themes such as the quality of financial reporting, real and accrual-based earnings management,
regulatory enforcement, and IFRS’s impact across jurisdictions. Prominent authors like Jeanjean, Stolowy, and
Christensen, along with key journals such as the European Accounting Review and Journal of Accounting and
Public Policy, were identified as intellectual anchors in the field. Network visualizations of citations, co-
authorship, and keyword co-occurrence revealed a maturing research structure with increasing global
collaboration and conceptual diversification. The findings highlight that while the IFRS-EM literature has
developed significantly, opportunities remain to explore underrepresented regions, embrace emerging topics like
sustainability reporting and digital governance, and foster cross-disciplinary integration. This bibliometric
review contributes to mapping the intellectual landscape and offers critical direction for future research
trajectories in financial reporting and earnings quality scholarship.
IFRS; Earnings Management; Bibliometric Analysis; Scopus; VOSviewer
The adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) represents a pivotal advancement in global
financial reporting, intended to improve the transparency, comparability, and quality of financial statements
across jurisdictions. More than 140 countries have either adopted or converged with IFRS, motivated by the
belief that harmonized accounting standards can reduce financial misreporting and curb opportunistic practices
such as earnings management (Zéghal, Chtourou, & Sellami, 2011). Earnings management is broadly defined as
the deliberate manipulation of financial reporting by managers to achieve specific outcomes, often for personal
or strategic gain (Capkun, Collins, & Jeanjean, 2012).
While advocates argue that IFRS enhances disclosure quality and constrains managerial discretion, thereby
reducing the scope for earnings manipulation (Baig & Khan, 2016; Rudra & Bhattacharjee, 2012), empirical
findings remain mixed. In environments where regulatory oversight and enforcement are weak, IFRS
implementation alone may be insufficient to deter manipulative accounting behaviors (Gbadebo, 2023; Hasan,
Hossain, Rekabder, Molla, & Ashif, 2022). In such contexts, the expected benefits of IFRS may be undermined
by institutional fragility. Moreover, recent studies emphasize that the effectiveness of IFRS in improving
earnings quality is contingent upon a variety of contextual factors, including governance mechanisms,
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managerial ability, external audit strength, and market monitoring (Fuad, Juliarto, Prasetyo, & Fahlevi, 2022;
Almaharmeh, Liu, & Iskandrani, 2024; Hakim, Rahayu, & Endri, 2022). These moderating variables complicate
the IFRS and earnings management relationship and account for the divergent results observed across countries
and sectors.
In light of this fragmented and expanding body of research, a bibliometric analysis provides a systematic,
replicable, and quantitative approach to map scholarly activity in the field. Such an approach allows for the
identification of intellectual foundations, influential authors and institutions, thematic evolution, and knowledge
gaps. Accordingly, this study aims to conduct a global bibliometric review of the IFRS, earnings management
nexus. It draws upon indexed publications from reputable databases to explore how this field has evolved over
time, with particular attention to accrual-based and real earnings management, as well as the implications of
specific standards such as IFRS 9, IFRS 15, and IFRS 16.
This study aims to map the intellectual landscape of research on the nexus between International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption and earnings management (EM) through a comprehensive bibliometric
analysis. Given the growing but fragmented body of literature on how IFRS influences both accrual-based and
real earnings management across various jurisdictions, this study seeks to synthesize existing knowledge,
identify thematic trends, and uncover emerging research trajectories in the field.
The central research questions guiding this inquiry are:
a) What are the key studies and ideas that have shaped research on IFRS and earnings management?
b) How has the focus of research on IFRS and earnings management changed over time?
c) Which researchers, universities, and countries are leading and influencing this field?
d) What are the latest trends, theories, and global collaborations in IFRS and earnings management research?
The remainder of this paper is structured as follows. Section 2 presents a critical review of the literature on IFRS,
earnings management, and relevant prior bibliometric studies. Section 3 outlines the research methodology,
including data sources, bibliometric indicators, and analytical tools employed. Section 4 presents the results of
the bibliometric analysis. Section 5 discusses the scholarly and practical implications, as well as thematic clusters
and future trajectories. Section 6 concludes with a summary of key findings and recommendations for future
research in the IFRS, earnings management domain.
The relationship between IFRS adoption and earnings management (EM) has been extensively explored, often
through an empirical lens. However, this literature is grounded, explicitly or implicitly, in foundational theories
such as agency theory, which views EM as a managerial tool to mislead stakeholders for private gain; and
institutional theory, which explains how national environments, enforcement regimes, and regulatory norms
shape the effectiveness of global standards like IFRS. In some contexts, stewardship theory also emerges,
emphasizing managerial integrity and transparency where IFRS adoption aligns with ethical reporting
motivations.
Early empirical evidence illustrates the varied influence of IFRS across institutional settings. Zéghal, Chtourou,
and Sellami (2011) provided early evidence that mandatory IFRS adoption generally reduces earnings
management, although the effect varies across legal regimes. Similarly, Capkun, Collins, and Jeanjean (2012)
argued that IFRS alone does not automatically constrain earnings manipulation unless accompanied by strong
enforcement mechanisms.
In a seminal cross-country analysis, Jeanjean and Stolowy (2008) found that IFRS adoption did not consistently
lead to reductions in earnings management. Their study, covering France, Australia, and the UK, revealed that
institutional enforcement, rather than standards alone, was the primary determinant of reporting quality.
Supporting this, van Tendeloo and Vanstraelen (2005) compared German GAAP and IFRS adopters and
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concluded that voluntary IFRS adoption did not significantly constrain earnings manipulation. These findings
align with Christensen et al. (2015), who emphasized that firm-level incentives and national institutions, not
merely accounting standards, drive improvements in reporting quality. Other influential works focus on the role
of enforcement. Brown, Preiato, and Tarca (2014) introduced an audit and enforcement proxy to quantify
differences in regulatory strength across jurisdictions, revealing that enforcement significantly moderates IFRS
effectiveness. Similarly, Houqe et al. (2012) found that IFRS adoption enhances earnings quality predominantly
in countries with robust investor protection.
From a regional perspective, Liu et al. (2011) examined IFRS adoption in China, a regulated market, and reported
modest improvements in accounting quality tied closely to the regulatory environment. In the EU context,
Doukakis (2014) distinguished between real and accrual-based earnings management and noted that IFRS
adoption had mixed effects on both forms. Likewise, Filip and Raffournier (2014) studied the 2008 financial
crisis and observed intensified earnings management across Europe despite IFRS, particularly in weaker
enforcement settings. Focusing on European banks, Leventis, Dimitropoulos, and Anandarajan (2011) found
evidence of discretionary use of loan loss provisions under IFRS, signaling continued earnings and capital
management. Iatridis (2010) broadly concluded that IFRS enhances the quality and informativeness of financial
statements, especially in reducing income smoothing. These findings were reinforced by Pelucio-Grecco et al.
(2014) who noted significant reductions in earnings manipulation among Brazilian public companies post-IFRS.
Recent studies expand this dialogue into emerging and transitional markets. Rudra and Bhattacharjee (2012) in
India and Baig and Khan (2016) in Pakistan confirmed a reduction in earnings management after IFRS
implementation, supporting the notion that IFRS may contribute to improved reporting quality even in less
mature regulatory environments. In South Africa, Gbadebo (2023) examined Johannesburg Stock Exchange
firms and raised doubts about IFRS’s universal effectiveness. In Bangladesh, Hasan et al. (2022) identified board
characteristics as a moderating factor between IFRS and real earnings management. Fuad et al. (2022) further
explored this interplay in Southeast Asia, linking IFRS 16 compliance to corruption and earnings manipulation.
In Saudi Arabia, Hashed and Almaqtari (2021) found that strong corporate governance complements IFRS to
reduce earnings management, while Garfatta (2021) introduced the CSR dimension as a moderating variable
post-IFRS. Selem and Elkholy (2025) focused on Saudi commercial banks, affirming IFRS's positive impact on
financial discipline.
Other region-specific studies include Rioui, Rigar, and Grine’s (2021) analysis in Morocco, which showed a
shift in earnings strategies following IFRS adoption. In Italy, Azzali et al. (2021) linked IFRS to increased audit
hours and audit effectiveness, further curbing earnings manipulation. Almaharmeh, Liu, and Iskandrani (2024)
extended this inquiry in the UK, showing that IFRS moderates the influence of analyst coverage on real earnings
management. In Brazil, Souza, Gonçalves, and Silva (2022) evaluated IFRS 15 and reported that the new revenue
recognition standard improved accrual quality. Meanwhile, Nnadi, Keskudee, and Amaewhule (2023) analyzed
IFRS 9 in European banks, finding more conservative earnings behavior post-adoption.
In summary, the empirical literature strongly supports the notion that IFRS adoption interacts with institutional
quality, enforcement strength, governance mechanisms, and managerial incentives, confirming the relevance of
both agency and institutional theories. While IFRS adoption has the potential to reduce earnings manipulation,
the outcomes are clearly context-dependent. This underscores the need for a bibliometric mapping to
systematically explore how these theoretical perspectives have been operationalized, identify research clusters,
and guide future investigations.
This study employs a quantitative bibliometric meta-analysis to systematically investigate the global research
landscape on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and earnings management (EM). Bibliometric
analysis offers a robust, objective, and replicable approach to examining large volumes of academic literature
through publication metadata, citation networks, co-authorship patterns, and keyword co-occurrence. This
method enables the identification of influential authors, journals, institutions, and thematic clusters, thereby
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revealing the intellectual structure and scholarly evolution of the field. Particularly suitable for mature and
multidisciplinary domains, bibliometric analysis facilitates the mapping of knowledge development over time
and uncovers both established and emerging research trends. By integrating citation-based indicators with
network analysis, this study provides critical insights into the productivity, impact, and interconnectivity of
IFRS-related scholarship. The findings contribute to the literature by highlighting key contributions, exposing
research gaps, and guiding future academic and policy-oriented investigations in international financial
reporting.
The bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database, recognized for its comprehensive coverage of
peer-reviewed literature across disciplines. The search string used was:
TITLE-ABS-KEY ( "IFRS" ) AND ( "earnings management" ) AND ( LIMIT-TO ( DOCTYPE, "ar" ) AND (
LIMIT-TO ( LANGUAGE, "English" ) ).
First, duplicate records were identified and removed to avoid any potential bias in the analysis. Next, the titles,
abstracts, and keywords of the remaining documents were carefully reviewed to exclude unrelated papers, non-
peer-reviewed publications, and those that did not directly address the themes of Big Data Analytics and
Accounting Information Systems (Hassan et al., 2023). To ensure data quality and interoperability, OpenRefine
and biblioMagika® were used to standardize and harmonize author names, affiliations, countries, and keywords.
These tools enabled the detection and correction of inconsistencies, duplicates, and metadata anomalies. For
bibliometric visualization, VOSviewer (Van Eck & Waltman, 2010) was utilized to construct co-authorship, co-
citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks, facilitating the identification of intellectual structures,
collaboration patterns, and thematic clusters in the IFRS and EM research domain. This process resulted in a
refined dataset of 398 publications. This study relies exclusively on the Scopus database for data retrieval. While
Scopus is comprehensive and widely used in bibliometric research, it may not capture all relevant publications
indexed in other databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, or specialized repositories.
The bibliographic data retrieved from Scopus underwent a rigorous data cleaning and harmonization process to
ensure the consistency and reliability of the analysis. Two specialized tools, OpenRefine and biblioMagika®,
were utilized to address common issues in bibliometric metadata, particularly those related to variations in author
names, institutional affiliations, and country designations. OpenRefine was used to identify and cluster
inconsistencies through its faceting and reconciliation functions, enabling the standardization of divergent entries
for the same entities (Ahmi, 2024). This was crucial in minimizing fragmentation across records and ensuring
coherent representation in co-authorship and institutional network maps. Following this, biblioMagika®, an
Excel-based bibliometric processing toolkit, was applied to further refine and normalize metadata fields. It
facilitated the harmonization of key bibliographic variables and the calculation of core indicators such as citation
counts, h-index values, and authorship contributions. Additionally, biblioMagika® prepared the cleaned dataset
in a structured format compatible with VOSviewer (Van Eck & Waltman, 2010), which was then used to
construct visualizations for co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks. Together, these
tools enabled a standardized and integrated dataset, forming the basis for a robust bibliometric analysis.
To assess the scholarly development of IFRS and EM research, this study presents a citation-based performance
analysis derived from Scopus-indexed publications. The bibliometric indicators below capture the productivity,
impact, and collaborative patterns within the field.
Table 1. Citation Metrics
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Main Information
Data
Publication Years
2005 - 2025
Total Publications
398
Citable Year
21
Number of Contributing Authors
1018
Number of Cited Papers
339
Total Citations
7,999
Citation per Paper
20.10
Citation per Cited Paper
23.60
Citation per Year
399.95
Citation per Author
7.86
Author per Paper
2.56
Citation sum within h-Core
7,136
h-index
46
g-index
77
m-index
2.190
Notes: h-index (Hirsch Index): Measures a researcher's productivity and impact. An h-index of h means they
have h papers, each cited at least h times.
g-index: A g-index of g means the top g papers have at least g² total citations. It highlights researchers with a
few highly influential works.
m-index: It is calculated by dividing the h-index by the number of years since the first publication, allowing
fairer comparison between early-career and senior researchers.
Source: Generated by the author(s) using biblioMagika® (Ahmi, 2024)
Table 1 presents the citation metrics for the study on IFRS adoption and earnings management, reflecting the
bibliometric performance of 398 publications from 2005 to 2025. Over 21 citable years, the dataset includes
contributions from 1,018 authors, with 339 papers receiving citations. A total of 7,999 citations were recorded,
averaging 20.10 citations per paper and 23.60 per cited paper, indicating strong scholarly interest. The field
shows consistent impact, as evidenced by a citation rate of 399.95 per year, an h-index of 46, a g-index of 77,
and an m-index of 2.190. The citation sum within the h-core (7,136) highlights the influence of key publications.
Furthermore, the average of 2.56 authors per paper reflects collaborative research activity. These metrics affirm
the field’s growing significance and underscore its sustained academic contribution to global discourse on IFRS
and earnings management.
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Table 2. Top 10 Subject Area
Subject Area
TP
%
Business, Management and Accounting
333
83.67%
Economics, Econometrics and Finance
224
56.28%
Social Sciences
44
11.06%
Decision Sciences
21
5.28%
Arts and Humanities
16
4.02%
Computer Science
12
3.02%
Engineering
7
1.76%
Environmental Science
7
1.76%
Multidisciplinary
6
1.51%
Energy
5
1.26%
Source: Generated by the author(s) using biblioMagika® (Ahmi, 2024)
Table 2 displays the top 10 subject areas associated with publications on IFRS adoption and earnings
management, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. The majority of contributions fall within
Business, Management and Accounting (83.67%) and Economics, Econometrics and Finance (56.28%),
underscoring the study's core relevance to financial reporting and corporate governance. Other areas such as
Social Sciences (11.06%) and Decision Sciences (5.28%) reflect the broader societal and strategic dimensions
of financial regulation. Fields like Computer Science, Engineering, and Environmental Science, though less
represented, suggest emerging intersections with technology, sustainability, and data-driven financial analysis.
The presence of Multidisciplinary research (1.51%) further emphasizes the evolving complexity of IFRS-related
studies. Overall, the distribution reveals a strong financial orientation, while also pointing to opportunities for
expanded engagement across diverse academic domains.
Examining the most highly cited authors and institutions offers valuable insight into the core contributors shaping
the field of IFRS adoption and EM. These influential works highlight key thematic shifts, dominant research
priorities, and the evolving global discourse, providing a clear view of where scholarly impact is most
concentrated.
Table 3. Top 10 highly cited articles
No.
Author(s)
Title
Source Title
TC
C/Y
1
Jeanjean T.;
Stolowy H. (2008)
Do accounting standards matter? An
exploratory analysis of earnings management
before and after IFRS adoption
Journal of
Accounting and
Public Policy
370
20.56
2
van Tendeloo B.;
Vanstraelen A.
(2005)
Earnings management under German GAAP
versus IFRS
European
Accounting Review
328
15.62
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3
Brown P.; Preiato
J.; Tarca A. (2014)
Measuring Country Differences in
Enforcement of Accounting Standards: An
Audit and Enforcement Proxy
Journal of Business
Finance and
Accounting
256
21.33
4
Christensen H.B.;
Lee E.; Walker
M.; Zeng C.
(2015)
Incentives or Standards: What Determines
Accounting Quality Changes around IFRS
Adoption?
European
Accounting Review
235
21.36
5
Houqe M.N.; van
Zijl T.; Dunstan
K.; Karim
A.K.M.W. (2012)
The Effect of IFRS Adoption and Investor
Protection on Earnings Quality Around the
World
International Journal
of Accounting
197
14.07
6
Chunhui Liu; Yao
L.J.; Hu N.; Liu L.
(2011)
The impact of ifrs on accounting quality in a
regulated market: An empirical study of China
Journal of
Accounting,
Auditing and
Finance
171
11.40
7
Doukakis L.C.
(2014)
The effect of mandatory IFRS adoption on
real and accrual-based earnings management
activities
Journal of
Accounting and
Public Policy
169
14.08
8
Iatridis G. (2010)
International Financial Reporting Standards
and the quality of financial statement
information
International Review
of Financial
Analysis
156
9.75
9
Filip A.;
Raffournier B.
(2014)
Financial crisis and earnings management:
The european evidence
International Journal
of Accounting
153
12.75
10
Leventis S.;
Dimitropoulos
P.E.; Anandarajan
A. (2011)
Loan Loss Provisions, Earnings Management
and Capital Management under IFRS: The
Case of EU Commercial Banks
Journal of Financial
Services Research
146
9.73
Notes: TC = Total Citations C/Y = average citations per year
Source: Generated by the author(s) using biblioMagika® (Ahmi, 2024)
Table 3 demonstrates the top 10 highly cited articles in the domain of IFRS adoption and earnings management,
reflecting the most influential scholarly contributions to the field. Jeanjean and Stolowy (2008) lead with 370
citations, offering critical insights into the role of accounting standards in curbing earnings management. Other
top-cited works, such as those by van Tendeloo and Vanstraelen (2005), and Christensen et al. (2015), explore
the comparative impacts of IFRS versus domestic GAAP and the interplay between standards and incentives.
Collectively, these articles address themes such as financial reporting quality, enforcement mechanisms,
regulatory environments, and market-specific effects of IFRS. The presence of both global and region-specific
studies (e.g., China, EU) underscores the field’s broad applicability. Average citation rates exceeding 20 per year
in several cases demonstrate sustained academic interest. These works form the intellectual backbone of the field
and serve as foundational references for advancing research on IFRS-related financial reporting practices.
Understanding how interest in IFRS and EM research has grown over time can offer helpful insights into the
field’s development. This section looks at yearly trends in publications and citations to see how scholarly
attention and influence have changed across the decades.
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Figure 1. Total Publications and Citations by Year
Source: Generated by the author(s) using biblioMagika® (Ahmi, 2024)
Figure 1 illustrates the annual trends in total publications and citations related to IFRS adoption and earnings
management from 2005 to 2025. The blue bars represent total publications, which show a steady increase starting
from 2010, peaking in 2018 with the highest output the year following widespread implementation of IFRS 15
on revenue recognition. This suggests renewed scholarly interest in response to major standard revisions and
maintaining relatively strong levels thereafter. The orange line, indicating total citations, shows fluctuating
patterns with notable citation peaks aligning with earlier years of publication activity, particularly between 2012
and 2015. A declining trend in citations is observed in the most recent years, likely due to citation lags common
in bibliometric data.
The declining citation trend in recent years may be attributed to normal citation lag and the maturation of earlier
foundational studies. Nonetheless, sustained publication levels in recent years indicate continued research
engagement. The data highlight the field’s evolution and suggest that external regulatory shifts, crises, and
standard updates (e.g., IFRS 9, 15, 16) have influenced publication and citation dynamics. There remains strong
potential for further impactful contributions that address newer regulatory, governance, and market complexities
in financial reporting.
In bibliometric analysis, citation by author examines how frequently a specific author’s works are cited by others,
helping to assess the author’s scholarly influence, productivity, and contribution to the field. It is commonly used
to identify highly influential researchers based on total citations or metrics like the h-index. On the other hand,
citation by source focuses on how often articles from a particular journal or publication source are cited. This
helps evaluate the prestige and relevance of journals, revealing which outlets are central to a research field.
Together, these analyses help map intellectual influence across authors and publication venues.
Figure 2: Network visualization of the Citation by author
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Source: Generated by the author(s) using VOSviewer (van Eck & Waltman, 2014)
Figure 2 presents a citation network visualization of authors contributing to the field of IFRS adoption and
earnings management, developed using VOSviewer. The map reveals a complex and structured citation
landscape, with color-coded clusters indicating communities of authors who frequently cite one another.
Prominent scholars such as Cormier, Denis; Lourenço, Isabel; and Ozili, Peterson K. are centrally positioned,
signifying their extensive influence and integrative role across multiple research streams. Their proximity to
various clusters suggests high citation frequency and cross-thematic relevance, marking them as pivotal figures
in shaping the intellectual development of the field.
Conversely, authors located on the periphery, such as Banerji, Banish and Delgado Fuentetaja, Carlos, reflect
emerging contributors or those operating within more specialized or regionally bounded research areas. The
visualization underscores both the consolidation of established scholarly networks and the presence of evolving
intellectual trajectories. Importantly, it highlights opportunities to enhance inter-cluster collaboration and
theoretical convergence across the broader IFRS–EM research landscape.
Figure 3: Network visualization of the Citation by Sources
Source: Generated by the author(s) using VOSviewer (van Eck & Waltman, 2014)
Figure 3 presents a network visualization of citation relationships among source journals contributing to the
literature on IFRS adoption and earnings management. This visualization, developed using VOSviewer, reveals
a structured and densely interconnected network, illustrating the intellectual core and thematic dispersion of
scholarly communication within the field.
At the center of the map are several highly influential journals, including the Journal of International Accounting,
European Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, and the Journal of Financial Reporting.
These sources exhibit high co-citation frequencies and central positioning, suggesting their pivotal role in
shaping foundational debates and anchoring the field’s academic discourse. The International Journal of
Accounting, British Accounting Review, and Advances in Accounting also emerge as prominent nodes,
reinforcing the depth and maturity of the literature and their consistent contributions to IFRS-EM scholarship.
Color-coded clusters represent distinct citation communities, often corresponding to either methodological
orientations, regional focuses, or thematic specializations (e.g., financial reporting quality, institutional context,
or corporate governance). The interconnectivity between clusters reflects a healthy degree of cross-referencing,
though some cluster boundaries suggest opportunities for further theoretical integration.
Notably, several peripheral journals, such as Sustainability and the Journal of International Capital, indicate
growing interdisciplinary engagement. Their presence points to emerging intersections between IFRS and topics
such as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, capital market dynamics, and digital finance,
signaling new frontiers in accounting research., Overall, the visualization underscores the dominance of well-
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established accounting and finance journals in disseminating IFRS-related research. Simultaneously, it highlights
the potential for citation diversification and cross-disciplinary collaboration, particularly as the field evolves to
address complex global reporting challenges. This insight is instrumental for scholars seeking to position their
work within high-impact venues and to foster broader intellectual engagement across academic domains.
Co-authorship analysis reveals the collaborative structure of research in IFRS adoption and earnings
management. By examining author networks, and country-level partnerships, this section highlights patterns of
scholarly cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the extent of international and interdisciplinary engagement
driving the field forward.
Figure 4: Network visualization of the co-authorship analysis by country
Source: Generated by the author(s) using VOSviewer (van Eck & Waltman, 2014)
Figure 4 presents the co-authorship network by country in the field of IFRS adoption and earnings management,
constructed using VOSviewer. The visualization illustrates the structure and extent of international scholarly
collaboration, with nodes representing countries and links indicating co-authorship strength. The United States
and United Kingdom emerge as dominant hubs at the center of the network, demonstrating their leadership roles
in driving cross-border research and serving as critical conduits for academic exchange.
These countries exhibit strong collaborative ties with a diverse range of partners, including Indonesia, Malaysia,
Germany, and Australia, suggesting a robust framework for both bilateral and multilateral scholarly engagement.
The presence of distinct regional clusters, for instance, those involving South Korea, Japan, China, and
Bangladesh, indicates concentrated research activity within Asia and reflects increasing regional academic self-
sufficiency and thematic cohesion. Peripheral nodes such as South Africa, Czech Republic, and Lebanon indicate
growing but less integrated contributions, highlighting emerging scholarly interest and the potential for further
integration into global research streams. The overall network structure underscores a mature yet evolving
international research community, with clear opportunities for enhancing inclusivity and fostering deeper
collaboration with underrepresented and developing economies. Such expansion is essential to enrich the
theoretical and contextual diversity of IFRS-related scholarship on a global scale.
Co-occurance
To uncover the conceptual structure of IFRS and earnings management research, a keyword co-occurrence
analysis was conducted. This approach helps identify the most frequently associated terms and thematic clusters,
offering insight into dominant research areas, emerging trends, and interdisciplinary linkages within literature.
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Figure 5. Network visualization of the co-occurance analysis by all keywords
Source: Generated by the author(s) using VOSviewer (van Eck & Waltman, 2014)
Figure 5 presents a keyword co-occurrence network derived from the bibliometric analysis of publications on
IFRS adoption and earnings management, visualized using VOSviewer. This mapping illustrates the conceptual
structure of the field by identifying clusters of terms that frequently appear together in the literature. Dominating
the network are the central keywords “Earnings Management” and “IFRS”, confirming their foundational role
and thematic centrality in the academic discourse.
Surrounding these core nodes are several densely connected clusters representing major thematic areas. Notable
terms such as “Earnings Quality,” “Value Relevance,” “Corporate Governance,” “Audit Quality,” and “Financial
Reporting Quality” indicate sustained scholarly interest in evaluating the consequences and credibility of IFRS
implementation. The emergence of terms like “Real Earnings Management,” “IFRS Adoption,” and “IFRS
Convergence” suggests a shift toward more nuanced, practice-oriented research, particularly in relation to
measurement challenges and managerial discretion.
Additionally, the inclusion of interdisciplinary keywords, such as “Institutional Factors,” “Financial
Development,” and “Investor Protection”, reflects the field’s growing engagement with institutional theory and
macroeconomic considerations. This expanding scope signals a maturation of the research domain and highlights
opportunities for integrative inquiry that spans accounting, finance, and institutional governance. The network
thus serves as a conceptual roadmap, guiding scholars toward underexplored intersections and supporting future
research that aligns with evolving regulatory, contextual, and methodological developments in global financial
reporting.
This bibliometric review has mapped the intellectual, thematic, and collaborative developments in research on
IFRS adoption and earnings management over the past two decades. Based on 398 Scopus-indexed publications,
the analysis identifies a growing and increasingly structured body of literature marked by consistent scholarly
output, influential contributions, and enhanced international collaboration. Citation and co-citation metrics
indicate sustained academic attention and the presence of core intellectual clusters. Co-occurrence analysis
reveals prominent themes such as earnings quality, audit quality, and value relevance, alongside emerging
interest in institutional factors, financial development, and corporate governance. While the field has been
shaped by well-established journals and authors, recent trends show a gradual diversification of contributors and
perspectives. However, the geographic and disciplinary concentration of publications suggests opportunities for
broader inclusion. Taken together, these findings suggest continued scholarly engagement with IFRS-related
issues, while highlighting the potential for expanded cross-border collaboration and deeper contextual inquiry.
Future research may benefit from incorporating longitudinal designs, comparative frameworks, and
methodological pluralism to address evolving global challenges in financial reporting and earnings management.
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Future research on IFRS adoption and earnings management can be meaningfully extended through more
nuanced bibliometric approaches that capture the dynamic evolution of the field. Longitudinal studies are
particularly valuable for tracing thematic and conceptual shifts over time, especially in response to regulatory
milestones such as the implementation of IFRS 9, IFRS 15, and IFRS 16. These investigations could offer deeper
insights into how scholarly attention evolves alongside changes in international reporting standards and financial
governance frameworks.
Geographical and institutional diversity in research also remains an important dimension. Comparative
bibliometric analyses across regions, legal origins, or enforcement regimes can uncover contextual disparities in
research intensity, thematic focus, and theoretical orientation. Such work would contribute to a more globally
inclusive understanding of IFRS-related scholarship and highlight underrepresented academic perspectives.
Furthermore, the application of advanced analytical tools, such as co-word analysis and topic modelling, can
help identify latent patterns and emerging research fronts, including those related to sustainability reporting,
digitalization, and fintech’s intersection with accounting. Enhancing the analysis of global co-authorship
networks through dynamic visualizations can further illuminate evolving collaboration structures and the
diffusion of knowledge within the IFRS research community.
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to the publication of this manuscript. No
financial, institutional, or personal relationships have influenced the research presented herein.
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable
request.
The authors, Wan Razazila Wan Abdullah, Norhayati Zamri, Farah Husna Mohd Fatzel, and Liyana Ab Rahman,
would like to express their sincere gratitude to Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for its continued financial
and institutional support, which made this research possible. The resources and academic environment provided
by the university have been instrumental in facilitating the successful completion of this study. The authors also
extend their heartfelt appreciation to the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments, constructive
critiques, and valuable recommendations. Their feedback has significantly contributed to the refinement of the
manuscript, enhancing its academic rigour, clarity, and relevance. The authors are deeply appreciative of the
reviewers' time, expertise, and commitment to scholarly excellence. Any remaining errors or omissions are the
sole responsibility of the authors.
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