Abstract
Does firms engaged in innovative activity manage earnings? Innovative activity is modeled by its inputs (R&D expenditures) and its outputs (patents published). Based on these two criteria, the sample includes French « innovative » firms over 2006-2010. The discretionary accruals show that these firms increase earnings. These earnings are only managed during early stages of development of innovations and are not during the latter stages. Further, the earnings management is related to new external funds.