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Literature shows that Working Capital Management (WCM) affects profitability and liquidity. Economic conditions may stress those relationships, especially during economic downturns. We analyze the effects of economic cycle on the relationship between WCM and profitability, using a sample of UK unlisted companies between 2006 and 2014. We find that WCM efficiency increases profitability. This positive impact is even more important during economic downturns. Our results show multi-level effects of WCM on profitability and liquidity constraints, with varying economic conditions. Results matter economically and managerially and highlight the importance of considering WCM as part of overall corporate financial strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the existence of conservative practices in the Portuguese accounting system, and whether these conservative practices affect the comparability of financial information provided by companies. We particularly examine whether the book value figure can be understated due to conservative practices to protect creditors' interests (balance sheet conservatism) and whether accountants delay the recognition in earnings of good news, while they recognize immediately bad news (earnings conservatism). Using a Basu (1997) type reverse regression and a simple adaptation of the Ohlson (1995) valuation model, the paper gives evidence concerning the existence of both definitions of conservatism in Portuguese accounting practices. A sample of non-financial Portuguese, German and British companies was used. Our results also show the larger earnings conservatism of British firms relative to Portugal and Germany, and surprisingly, that Portugal is more BS (larger understatement of shareholders' equity) conservative than the United Kingdom. The results have implications for accounting standard setting and they can be useful for both the European Commission and the IASB since they provide some insight into the properties of accounting figures in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]