A study was conducted to identify accounting choice variables that influence a manager's decision to change the level of the deferred tax asset allowance at the firm (The Engineering Economist, Jan./Feb. 2004). Data were collected for a sample of 329 firms that reported deferred tax assets in 2000. The dependent variable of interest (DTVA) is measured as the change in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance divided by the deferred tax asset. The independent variables used as predictors of DTVA are listed as follows:
LEVERAGE: x1 = ratio of debt book value to shareholder's equity
BONUS: x2 = 1 if firm maintains a management bonus plan, 0 if not
MVALUE: x3 = market value of common stock
BBATH: x4 = 1 if operating earnings negative and lower than last year, 0 if not
EARN: x5 = change in operating earnings divided by total assets
A first-order model was fit to the data with the following results (p-values in parentheses):

a. Interpret the estimate of the β coefficient for x4.
b. The "Big Bath" theory proposed by the researchers states that the mean DTVA for firms with negative earnings and earnings lower than last year will exceed the mean DTVA of other firms. Is there evidence to support this theory? Test using α = .05.
c. Interpret the value of R2a.

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R 280 (.070) (.228) (.157 678) 001) (869)