2. One of the most controversial topics to affect the accounting profession has been that of earn- ings management. Companies have been trying to manage their earnings to match analysts' projections. While the accounting literature doesn't give accounting professionals a clear definition of earnings management, many people have been critical of companies for trying to manage earnings, saying that most managed financial statements are fraudulent. As a class or individ- ually, analyze the pros and cons of earnings management and try to decide whether earn- ings management is the same as financial state- ment fraud.