The basic economic relationship among the three curves, CFCF vis. FOCF or POCF, can be summarized as
follows. (1) The level and changes of CFCF are the basic factors determining FOCF (or POCF); (2) FO (or PO)
modifies the level and changes of FOCF (or POCF); specifically, (3) FOCF (or POCF) runs above CFCF if FO
(or PO) is positive, or below CFCF if FO (or PO) is negative. In short, offset N0 causes FCF N CFCF, and offset
b0 causes FCF b CFCF (Fig. 2).
The following salient features are observed. (1) Even within industries, the errors of FCF vis. CFCF are systemic
and robust but not consistently ordered. (2) The mode of distributionswithin industries is close to zero,
the point of parity between FOCF and CFCF. The graphs do not indicate the relationship FOCF N CFCF, suggesting
the absence of significant FCF size manipulations by firms in those industries. The graphs demonstrate a
widespread neglected opportunity to gain from overstatement of the FCF through the use of an offset.7