Digital Transformation and Quality of Accounting Information: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies

Abstract

In the context of the digital economy, the impact of corporate digital transformation on financial reporting quality has become a focal point of accounting research. This paper selects A-share listed companies in China from 2015 to 2023 as the research sample to empirically test the relationship between digital transformation and accounting information quality. By constructing a text mining index to measure the degree of digital transformation and using the modified Jones model to calculate discretionary accruals as a proxy for accounting information quality, this study finds that digital transformation significantly improves the quality of accounting information. The mechanism test shows that digital transformation enhances information transparency and reduces agency costs, thereby optimizing financial reporting quality. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis indicates that this promoting effect is more significant in non-state-owned enterprises and firms with higher levels of market competition. This study provides empirical evidence for understanding the economic consequences of corporate digitalization and offers policy implications for regulators to improve the capital market information environment.