As a proxy for earnings quality, we use the earnings response coefficient (ERC). As
earnings become less reliable or less precise, reported earnings are a noisier representation
of future cash flows, and the ERC will decrease (Holthausen and Verrecchia 1988). Earnings
quality can also be couched in terms of earnings persistence. Empirically, Kormendi and
Lipe (1987) find that unexpected returns reflect the present value of earnings innovations
and conclude that the earnings persistence is reflected in measures of ERC.