Jones (1991) examined the discretionary accrual choices of U.S. firms that applied for financial relief from the federal government because they claimed they were affected adversely by unfair foreign competition. Jones reported that most of these firms adopted negative discretionary accruals (which reduced their net income) in the year in which their accounts were investigated by the U.S. government. Explain and discuss which hypothesis of PAT this accounting decision (to reduce the level of net Income) is consistent with