Benefits of a slanted view: a discussion of ‘disclosure bias’☆

Abstract

Fischer and Verrecchia (J. Account. Econom. (2004), forthcoming) studies a model of imperfect competition in which firms’ disclosures are affected by biased information processing. They find that optimism can add punch to a firm's actions. When facing an optimist, a rival is forced to soften its competitive posture, thereby rendering such biases viable. Although the setting provides a cogent explanation for disclosure bias, its reliance on imperfect information processing introduces some questions. One concern is the ease with which polar results can be obtained when the rules-of-the-game are sufficiently relaxed. The discussion provides examples illustrating this and related issues.