A competing perspective predicts otherwise. In particular, independent outsiders are typically
less well informed than insiders about firm-specific factors that influence financial reporting quality
(Bushman et al. 2004; Armstrong and Weber 2009). Thus, even when outside board members have
incentives to provide quality financial oversight, their ability to provide quality oversight can be
restricted by limited knowledge or understanding of financial reporting details.2 Thus, the role of
board independence as a determinant of financial reporting quality is ambiguous.