Small and medium-sized companies in most EU countries form a considerable share in the total number of companies and are also an important development impeller of the entire economy. Therefore, one of the most essenti...Small and medium-sized companies in most EU countries form a considerable share in the total number of companies and are also an important development impeller of the entire economy. Therefore, one of the most essential goals of accounting authorities in the EU is accomplishing the harmonization of accounting regulations for these companies. In this paper, the author have discussed and explained the main motifs and impediments for this harmonization. One of the main motifs is a big span and complexity of international standards of financial reports which is allowed and even prescribed in many countries. Some of the main impediments are a lack of uniformity as far as criteria for classification of small and medium-sized companies according to size are concerned as well as the determining of limitations up to which the requirements in accounting standards for small and medium-sized companies should be set.展开更多
The objective of this study is to examine the effect of accounting standards and investor protection on value relevance of earnings and book value of equity among European Union countries during the years 1999-2007. T...The objective of this study is to examine the effect of accounting standards and investor protection on value relevance of earnings and book value of equity among European Union countries during the years 1999-2007. The results indicate that the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] leads to improvement in value relevance, particularly on earnings. We also examine the impact of investor protection and the deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS on the effectiveness of the IFRS adoption. The results show supporting evidence for investor protection but inconclusive evidence for accounting standard deviation. However, additional analysis indicates that the countries which apparently benefit from adopting IFRS are those with high deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS and high investor protection. The findings imply that adopting IFRS alone cannot improve value relevance of accounting information, but standard setters and regulators need to strengthen their investor protection mechanisms in order to improve the quality of accounting information.展开更多
The Practice Statement provides a flexible approach to preparation of the management commentary, generating more meaningful disclosure and discussing those matters that are more relevant to the company＇s individual c...The Practice Statement provides a flexible approach to preparation of the management commentary, generating more meaningful disclosure and discussing those matters that are more relevant to the company＇s individual circumstances. In this direction, the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） has highlighted some content elements recognised as being fundamental for guaranteeing the usefulness of the management commentary. With reference to these elements, it is interesting to analyse the level of disclosure of the financial reporting. These analyses aim to identify the themes dealt with most extensively by the companies and those that require greater attention so that the narrative section of the financial statement is, on the one hand, at least consistent with the suggestions of the guideline and, on the other hand, contains information that is useful for the users. Lastly, in the light of the relevant European Union （EU） directives, the results of the analysis will help to formulate considerations on the ability of the IASB guideline to improve the completeness of the narrative section. All this is examined in a cross-country dimension： Financial reports in Italy and the United Kingdom （UK） are examined. The content analysis methodology is applied. Within the financial reporting, the management discussion is examined in particular. The analysis is performed considering 2008. This qualitative paper will contribute to the studies on disclosure and usefulness of the information provided.展开更多
This article aims at giving a contribution to the issue of accounting electrical energy sale and purchase agreements in accordance with the faithful representation principle. To this end, it must be ascertained whethe...This article aims at giving a contribution to the issue of accounting electrical energy sale and purchase agreements in accordance with the faithful representation principle. To this end, it must be ascertained whether electrical energy is bought/sold for an industrial use exclusively, so that the relevant transaction will be accounted as a normal purchase/sale, or through the lease of the relevant production plant, which would require the supply contract to be accounted in compliance with International Accounting Standards （IAS） 17 ＂Leasing＂. Alternatively, it must also be ascertained whether the relevant party is implementing financial trading strategies, as in such hypothesis, the supply contract is to be accounted as a financial instrument according to International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS） 9/IAS 39 ＂Financial Instruments＂. Finally, the modalities used by a number of companies listed on European regulated markets to account such kind of contracts will be analyzed.展开更多
The convergence of accounting standards started in the 1970s, with international norms issued by the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） and with the efforts of various countries to adopt the Internation...The convergence of accounting standards started in the 1970s, with international norms issued by the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） and with the efforts of various countries to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS）, already mandatory in Brazil since 2010. Thus, comparable accounting information is clearly important, and this study plans to confirm the level of comparability of net income and equity of companies in the financial sector （in Brazil, ＂Finance and Others＂）, listed in the stock exchange, futures, and commodities （BM＆F Bovespal）, issued according to Brazilian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles （BR GAAP） and the IFRS. This study is descriptive, using a quantitative approach. Data were collected from secondary sources, more specifically, from the explanatory notes in the financial statements of the companies listed in the financial sector of the BM＆F Bovespa in the fiscal year of 2010. The results showed a reasonable level of comparability, with 68% of the companies presenting materially comparable information for net income and 72% of them for equity. However, decisions made based on data issued following the two different standards may have suffered the influence of asymmetric information; in other words, the comparability of information did not seem to satisfy those companies during the studied period of time. The main limitations of this study were data collection and selection for the development of the research because of： （1） inconsistence in net income and equity reconciliation criteria in the companies investigated; and （2） lack of uniformity in designating the adjustments that affect net income and equity in the conversion of the BR GAAP standard into the IFRS.展开更多
Current accounting development in Kosovo is estimated to be relatively good, which always constituted in terms of maintenance, improvement and facilitate of financial reporting system for all business entities within ...Current accounting development in Kosovo is estimated to be relatively good, which always constituted in terms of maintenance, improvement and facilitate of financial reporting system for all business entities within this system In recent years, Kosovo experienced rapid development in economic and social aspects, along with all effects and other changes, which has occurred in the development of accounting and financial reporting system. Accounting requirements are already addressed to the business community for keeping proper accounting in accordance with existing intemational and Kosovar standards. In recent years in Kosovo, we notice an increase of enterprises in the number, especially private enterprises, which have highlighted the great necessary to have such information, who had been a major help for their managers. With this, the accounting gets a new role, becoming the information that flows from that decisive leadership bodies. But the changing of role of accounting must be accompanied by measures to ensure its retention in accordance with the requirements and new conditions created展开更多
The International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） has established international standards （International Accounting Standards （lASs） and International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRSs）） to ensure more co...The International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） has established international standards （International Accounting Standards （lASs） and International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRSs）） to ensure more comparability and transparency and also higher-quality financial statements. The creation of such standards by the IASB aims at achieving harmonization of accounting practices among countries. The objective of this research is to show that in accordance with the expectations of international organizations, the adoption of IAS-IFRS increases the information content of financial statements and also to identify the key accounting variables that have been affected by this adoption. This article used a sample of year observations of 150 French firms which have adopted IAS-IFRS since 2005 as data to study the association relationship between accounting variables and stock returns before and after the adoption of IASs. The findings of this paper show that the application of IAS-IFRS as accounting standards increases the information content of accounting numbers. Dividends, long-term debts, equity, and revenue variables are most correlated with stock returns. Their information content has reached 80% after the adoption, while it was 30% before.展开更多
文摘Small and medium-sized companies in most EU countries form a considerable share in the total number of companies and are also an important development impeller of the entire economy. Therefore, one of the most essential goals of accounting authorities in the EU is accomplishing the harmonization of accounting regulations for these companies. In this paper, the author have discussed and explained the main motifs and impediments for this harmonization. One of the main motifs is a big span and complexity of international standards of financial reports which is allowed and even prescribed in many countries. Some of the main impediments are a lack of uniformity as far as criteria for classification of small and medium-sized companies according to size are concerned as well as the determining of limitations up to which the requirements in accounting standards for small and medium-sized companies should be set.
文摘The objective of this study is to examine the effect of accounting standards and investor protection on value relevance of earnings and book value of equity among European Union countries during the years 1999-2007. The results indicate that the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] leads to improvement in value relevance, particularly on earnings. We also examine the impact of investor protection and the deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS on the effectiveness of the IFRS adoption. The results show supporting evidence for investor protection but inconclusive evidence for accounting standard deviation. However, additional analysis indicates that the countries which apparently benefit from adopting IFRS are those with high deviation of local accounting standards from IFRS and high investor protection. The findings imply that adopting IFRS alone cannot improve value relevance of accounting information, but standard setters and regulators need to strengthen their investor protection mechanisms in order to improve the quality of accounting information.
文摘The Practice Statement provides a flexible approach to preparation of the management commentary, generating more meaningful disclosure and discussing those matters that are more relevant to the company＇s individual circumstances. In this direction, the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） has highlighted some content elements recognised as being fundamental for guaranteeing the usefulness of the management commentary. With reference to these elements, it is interesting to analyse the level of disclosure of the financial reporting. These analyses aim to identify the themes dealt with most extensively by the companies and those that require greater attention so that the narrative section of the financial statement is, on the one hand, at least consistent with the suggestions of the guideline and, on the other hand, contains information that is useful for the users. Lastly, in the light of the relevant European Union （EU） directives, the results of the analysis will help to formulate considerations on the ability of the IASB guideline to improve the completeness of the narrative section. All this is examined in a cross-country dimension： Financial reports in Italy and the United Kingdom （UK） are examined. The content analysis methodology is applied. Within the financial reporting, the management discussion is examined in particular. The analysis is performed considering 2008. This qualitative paper will contribute to the studies on disclosure and usefulness of the information provided.
文摘This article aims at giving a contribution to the issue of accounting electrical energy sale and purchase agreements in accordance with the faithful representation principle. To this end, it must be ascertained whether electrical energy is bought/sold for an industrial use exclusively, so that the relevant transaction will be accounted as a normal purchase/sale, or through the lease of the relevant production plant, which would require the supply contract to be accounted in compliance with International Accounting Standards （IAS） 17 ＂Leasing＂. Alternatively, it must also be ascertained whether the relevant party is implementing financial trading strategies, as in such hypothesis, the supply contract is to be accounted as a financial instrument according to International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS） 9/IAS 39 ＂Financial Instruments＂. Finally, the modalities used by a number of companies listed on European regulated markets to account such kind of contracts will be analyzed.
文摘The convergence of accounting standards started in the 1970s, with international norms issued by the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） and with the efforts of various countries to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS）, already mandatory in Brazil since 2010. Thus, comparable accounting information is clearly important, and this study plans to confirm the level of comparability of net income and equity of companies in the financial sector （in Brazil, ＂Finance and Others＂）, listed in the stock exchange, futures, and commodities （BM＆F Bovespal）, issued according to Brazilian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles （BR GAAP） and the IFRS. This study is descriptive, using a quantitative approach. Data were collected from secondary sources, more specifically, from the explanatory notes in the financial statements of the companies listed in the financial sector of the BM＆F Bovespa in the fiscal year of 2010. The results showed a reasonable level of comparability, with 68% of the companies presenting materially comparable information for net income and 72% of them for equity. However, decisions made based on data issued following the two different standards may have suffered the influence of asymmetric information; in other words, the comparability of information did not seem to satisfy those companies during the studied period of time. The main limitations of this study were data collection and selection for the development of the research because of： （1） inconsistence in net income and equity reconciliation criteria in the companies investigated; and （2） lack of uniformity in designating the adjustments that affect net income and equity in the conversion of the BR GAAP standard into the IFRS.
文摘Current accounting development in Kosovo is estimated to be relatively good, which always constituted in terms of maintenance, improvement and facilitate of financial reporting system for all business entities within this system In recent years, Kosovo experienced rapid development in economic and social aspects, along with all effects and other changes, which has occurred in the development of accounting and financial reporting system. Accounting requirements are already addressed to the business community for keeping proper accounting in accordance with existing intemational and Kosovar standards. In recent years in Kosovo, we notice an increase of enterprises in the number, especially private enterprises, which have highlighted the great necessary to have such information, who had been a major help for their managers. With this, the accounting gets a new role, becoming the information that flows from that decisive leadership bodies. But the changing of role of accounting must be accompanied by measures to ensure its retention in accordance with the requirements and new conditions created
文摘The International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） has established international standards （International Accounting Standards （lASs） and International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRSs）） to ensure more comparability and transparency and also higher-quality financial statements. The creation of such standards by the IASB aims at achieving harmonization of accounting practices among countries. The objective of this research is to show that in accordance with the expectations of international organizations, the adoption of IAS-IFRS increases the information content of financial statements and also to identify the key accounting variables that have been affected by this adoption. This article used a sample of year observations of 150 French firms which have adopted IAS-IFRS since 2005 as data to study the association relationship between accounting variables and stock returns before and after the adoption of IASs. The findings of this paper show that the application of IAS-IFRS as accounting standards increases the information content of accounting numbers. Dividends, long-term debts, equity, and revenue variables are most correlated with stock returns. Their information content has reached 80% after the adoption, while it was 30% before.
