Determinants of Earnings Management: A Study in Indonesia’s Property and Real Estate Sector

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of profitability, firm size, firm growth, and corporate governance on earnings management among property and real estate companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the 2019–2024 period. The study focuses on the property and real estate sector, which tends to receive less attention in prior research even though it has shown several indications of earnings manipulation in practice. Using a purposive sampling method, 57 companies were selected as the research sample, and data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with SPSS software. The results show that profitability, firm growth, and corporate governance positively and significantly affect earnings management, while firm size has a negative and significant effect. Simultaneous testing confirms that all four variables collectively influence earnings management. These findings deepen the understanding of how firm characteristics and governance mechanisms shape financial reporting behavior. Practically, the results suggest that regulators, investors, and company management should enhance oversight and transparency to reduce the likelihood of earnings manipulation.

Abstrak - Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh profitabilitas, ukuran perusahaan, pertumbuhan perusahaan, dan corporate governance terhadap manajemen laba pada perusahaan properti dan real estate yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia selama periode 2019-2024. Penelitian ini berfokus pada sektor properti dan real estate yang selama ini masih jarang dikaji, meskipun di lapangan sering ditemukan indikasi praktik manipulasi laba. Sampel penelitian diperoleh melalui metode purposive sampling dengan total 57 perusahaan, dan data dianalisis menggunakan regresi linier berganda melalui bantuan perangkat lunak SPSS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa profitabilitas, pertumbuhan perusahaan, dan corporate governance berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap manajemen laba, sedangkan ukuran perusahaan berpengaruh negatif dan signifikan. Uji simultan membuktikan bahwa keempat variabel tersebut secara bersama-sama berpengaruh signifikan terhadap manajemen laba. Temuan ini memberikan pemahaman yang lebih jelas mengenai bagaimana karakteristik perusahaan dan mekanisme tata kelola memengaruhi perilaku pelaporan keuangan. Secara praktis, hasil penelitian menunjukkan pentingnya peningkatan pengawasan dan transparansi oleh regulator, investor, maupun pihak manajemen untuk meminimalkan potensi manipulasi laporan keuangan.