Determinants of asymmetric loss recognition timeliness in public and private firms in Brazil

We investigate the determinants of asymmetric loss recognition timeliness (ALRT) for public and private firms in Brazil. We complement Ball and Shivakumar (2005) by investigating ALRT in Brazil where, unlike in the UK setting, equity markets do not provide the adequate incentives for high quality financial reporting. In Brazil, even listed public companies do not face the same institutional environment of the British firms. Using a unique database of Brazilian public and private firms we document that Brazilian public and private firms present similar ALRT, different from the evidence that Ball and Shivakumar (2005) reported for the UK.