A Variance Decomposition Primer for Accounting Research

Abstract

This pedagogical note introduces the accounting-based variance decomposition methodology of Vuolteenaho (2002) in a relatively simple format for the edification of accounting scholars and doctoral students who wish to use variance decomposition in their research. In addition to presenting an example that explicates the variance decomposition approach, we provide well-documented SAS and STATA programs for estimating variance decompositions from cross-sectional time-series data.