3. Sample and measurement of main variables
3.1 Data source
We obtain our sample of publicly listed Chinese firms available in the China Security
Market and Accounting Research dataset. The starting point of our sample is dictated
by accounting standards and in particular by the accounting standard for business
enterprises: cash flow statements that became operative from January 1998. Since it is
only feasible to calculate accruals using cash flow statements in the first year, we use a
sample during 1998-2006. Sample selection is as follows: