Overall, linking the quality of corporate governance and the return-earnings
association, an alternative measure of earnings quality, we find results which are
largely consistent with the results obtained by using abnormal accruals as a proxy for
earnings quality. Namely, firms with a more independent or functional board, and
stronger shareholder rights, are more likely to have a stronger returns-earnings
association, suggesting the earnings have a higher level of information content. In
addition, earnings are more informative for firms with mandatory shareholding by
board or management.