This evidence is inconsistent with three hypotheses. The first of these is “If the average age of receivables declines, then profits will increase.” The second hypothesis is “If the written-off accounts receivables decrease as a percentage of sales, then profits will increase.” The third hypothesis is “If unsold inventory at the end of the season as a percentage of cost of sales declines, then profits will increase.”
Again, there are a number of possible explanations for the lack of results consistent with the hypotheses. Managers may have decreased the average age of receivables by simply writing off old accounts earlier than was done previously. This would actually decrease reported profits in the short term. Bad debts as a percentage of sales could be decreased by drastically cutting back
on extensions of credit to customers—perhaps even canceling some charge accounts. (There would be no bad debts at all if there were no credit sales.) This would have the effect of reducing bad debts, but might irritate otherwise loyal credit customers and reduce sales and profits.