The primary objective of this course is to enable you to 
develop research skills that are necessary to investigate 
research questions involving financial accounting information 
and the capital markets.  Given that this is a second seminar 
in capital markets research, the focus of the seminar will 
change through time to reflect the most relevant current topics 
in capital markets research. We will achieve our objective by 
discussing research papers in capital markets-based research 
areas and by engaging in the design of an empirical research 
paper.

This course is updated each time it is offered to reflect 
current research in the area.  Students retaking the class will 
be exposed to new material each time, often from a different 
professor. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the 
following:

1. Earnings and accounting numbers as information
2. Timeliness of financial reports
3. Conservative financial reporting
4. Voluntary disclosure of accounting information
5. Managerial discretion over financial reporting (earnings 
management)
6. The role of the auditor, board of directors, investors, 
financial analysts, creditors, etc.
7. Accounting information and ownership structure
8. The impact of financial reporting quality on corporate 
decisions 
9. The use of accounting information in assessing management
10. Valuation of accounting information
11. Financial statement analysis 
12. Earnings forecasting by analysts, investors, etc.
13. Investor trading on accounting information
14. Presentation of research ideas