Mobile communications – On standards,classifications and generations

The research question addressed in this paper is concerned with the manners in which the general technological progress in mobile communications is characterized and the reasons for the differences in these modes of manifestation. The relevance of this research question is that the different manifestation modes create a degree of confusion in communications and discussions on mobile technologies. At the same time, it should be recognized that different manners of categorizing technologies illustrate the fact that categorizations are based on different purposes of the classification exercises. Also, the paper discusses the role of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in the processes of mobile standardization.In common parlance, progress in mobile technologies is mostly referred to as generations. In ITU, the classification terminology is that of International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) standards. In the specialized standards body with a central position in the standardization of core mobile technologies, namely 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), the terminology of ‘releases’ is used. In order to address the research question, the paper uses an analytical framework based on the differences and relationships between the concepts of standards, classifications and generations.     

Rules, principles and judgments in accounting standards

The distinction between rules-based and principles-based standards is not well defined and is subject to a variety of interpretations ( SEC, 2003 , p. 5). Yet there is a commonly held view that the FASB's standards are rules-based and the IASB's standards are principles-based. This article identifies the basis of this distinction. For research and development, the article compares the FASB standard with two principles-based standards. For each standard we identify and classify rules and judgments, and observe the level of justifications for the rules and assistance to support the judgments. The three standards have rules, are based on principles, and require the exercise of professional judgment; the less conservative standard requires more judgments and, unexpectedly, more rules. The results suggest that the rules-based versus principles-based distinction is not meaningful, except in relative terms. We conclude that a relatively more principles-based standards regime requires professional judgment at both the transaction level (substance over form) and at the financial statement level ('true and fair view' override). Furthermore, it is suggested that any FASB and IASB convergence will require agreement on the weightings given to the qualitative characteristics.     

通货膨胀目标制的目标标准设计比较研究

通货膨胀目标标准设计是通货膨胀目标制实施过程中一个关键性问题.不同类别的国家所选择的目标标准表现出不同特征.就目标而言,大多数国家选择是区间目标,或一个点目标,允许一定百分点的上下浮动幅度范围.目标取值都在零通货膨胀率以上.在初期阶段目标期限偏短,在通货膨胀稳定时期,目标期限有加长的倾向.大多数国家使用总CPI指数作为度量标准,可调整的CPI如核心通货膨胀指标也逐渐受到一些国家的重视.     

Cross-sectional variation in the economic consequences of international accounting harmonization: The case of mandatory IFRS adoption in the UK

This study examines the economic consequences for UK firms of the European Union's decision to impose mandatory IFRS. We hypothesize that the impact varies across firms and is conditional on the perceived benefit. We estimate a counter-factual proxy for a UK firm's willingness to adopt IFRS from the prior GAAP choices of German firms. We show that this proxy predicts cross-sectional variations in both the short-run market reactions and the long-run changes in cost of equity that are associated with the decision. This implies that mandatory IFRS adoption does not benefit all firms in a uniform way but results in relative winners and losers.     

Competitive strategies and performance in technology-based industries

A model is proposed for relating a technology-based firm's investments in R&D and marketing to its level of performance. The model is based on a homothetic performance function form that is maintained to best represent unique differences among the competitive strategies of firms or groups of firms within an industry. It also permits explicit estimation of returns to scale with respect to investments in R&D and marketing for the industry as a whole. The empirical analysis strongly supports the existence of a heterogenous competitive structure in a technology-based industry with the returns-to-scale estimates varying among the industries studied. The model implies that desirable increases in competition occur through the interaction of individual firms and possibly strategic groups. It also implies the possibility of less than perfect substitution of resources across competitive strategies within an industry. Thus future models of competition should not be based entirely on size-related measures.     

我国会计准则国际协调效果量化研究评述

In recent years, an increasing number of quantitative researches have been conducted in the field of international harmonization of China Accounting Standards(CAS). However, differences even contradictions do exist in the conclusions due to different research perspectives, samples, variable and period selection as well as the method adopted. Firstly, this paper systematically reviews the quantitative research literature on the international harmonization progress of CAS from the following four aspects: the degree of harmonization of specific items in CAS with that of in International Accounting Standards (IAS), differences in accounting numbers, accounting information, and earnings quality in various financial reports compiled based on CAS or IAS respectively. Lastly, suggestions for future research are provided. Translated and revised from Kuaiji Yanjiu 会计研究 (Accounting Research), 2006, (2): 14–18     

Platform control during battles for market dominance: The case of Apple versus IBM in the early personal computer industry

We conduct a case study of the battle for market dominance between the industry platforms led by Apple and by IBM in the early personal computer industry (1977–1986). Platform leaders such as Apple or IBM need to consider many technological, strategic, and network factors in managing their industry platforms. We explore how platform leaders deploy these factors and their interactions during a battle for market dominance. We find that platform leaders choose various control modes to do so, ranging from central control to distributed control. The adoption of these control modes is dependent on the choice of being first entrant with a technological discontinuity (central control) or follower (distributed control). Within a control mode, technological, strategic, and network factors are managed in a coherent way.     

A Proposal of an International Environmental Reporting Grid: What Interest for Policymakers,Regulatory Bodies,Companies, and Researchers?: Reply to Discussion of “Mandatory Environmental Disclosures by Companies Complying with IAS/IFRS: The Case of France,Germany and the UK”

This article offers the authors' insights concerning the issues raised by Professor Trevor Wilkins in commentaries on the article “Mandatory environmental disclosures by companies complying with IAS/IFRS: the case of France, Germany, and the UK” (Barbu et al., 2014). As suggested by Professor Wilkins, we demonstrate the utility of the international environmental reporting grid proposed in Barbu et al. (2014, Table 3): (1) for IASB policymakers and other regulatory bodies, (2) for companies to improve their environmental reporting, (3) for further research, and (4) for understanding the economic and financial consequences of IAS/IFRS-compliant environmental information.     

会计准则改革、会计利润信息与银行债务契约

本文考察了新、旧准则下合并报表净利润对银行信贷决策有用性的变化,以及新、旧准则下合并—母公司净利润差异对银行信贷决策有用性的变化。研究发现,合并报表净利润是银行信贷决策的重要依据,新准则下合并报表净利润与债务契约的相关性减弱,且公允价值变动损益高的公司更明显。论文还发现,新准则实施后,合并—母公司净利润差异与企业获得银行借款的相关性减弱,说明新准则下的合并母公司净利润差异为银行信贷决策提供了新的信息含量。     

The Development of Accounting and Reporting in Ghana

In this paper, we examine the economic, political, and legal systems as well as the institutional factors that influence the accounting and disclosure practices in Ghana. The impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on disclosure is also investigated, as Ghana has recently completed full adoption. We find that the accounting and reporting practices are significantly influenced by legal, political, institutional, and economic factors and that the regulatory environment is neither effective nor efficient due to the weak monitoring and enforcement of compliance. Although there has been some recent progress, the Companies' Code, which is the corporate legal framework of Ghana, must be updated to reflect the dynamic nature of world operations. This study advances the course of standards setters, regulators, accounting practitioners, and policymakers to improve the corporate reporting and accounting practices. Urgent measures need to be undertaken to reform and build the capacities of institutions charged with the responsibility of regulating and monitoring Ghanaian accounting and reporting practices to ensure best practices and build investors' confidence.