Discussion of Barker and Teixeira ([2018]. Gaps in the IFRS Conceptual Framework. Accounting in Europe, 15) and Van Mourik and Katsuo ([2018]. Profit or loss in the IASB Conceptual Framework. Accounting in Europe, 15)

Abstract

I provide comments on two papers, Barker and Teixeira ([2018]. Gaps in the IFRS Conceptual Framework. Accounting in Europe, 15) and Van Mourik and Katsuo ([2018]. Profit or loss in the IASB Conceptual Framework. Accounting in Europe, 15), in this issue, which were presented at the EAA-IASB research forum in Brussels. The paper accepts the shortcomings of the updated IASB conceptual framework and argues that these are in large part due to the origins of the document. It points out that the original US project was an attempt to make standard-setting more consistent and involved creating principles which would explain existing standards. Constituents have subsequently resisted attempts to make the framework theoretically sound because they fear this will encourage too much innovation. Standard-setters prefer incremental change, so continue to work with a model created to resolve a problem of the 1970s. I suggest that since standard-setting has been professionalised, the more significant need to is to define what information investors find useful. This may involve providing more granular information about the entity’s business model.     

IASB与FASB公允价值计量准则趋同的困难和挑战

公允价值计量是世界性财务报告难题。2006年9月FASB发布"公允价值计量"准则(SFAS157),制定了新公允价值定义和计量指南;同年11月IASB将包含初步观点的征求意见书与SFAS157一同发布,作为"公允价值计量"准则讨论稿,其准则终稿将与SFAS157趋同。本文在研究SFAS157对IFRSs适用性的基础上,分析IASB向FASB趋同过程中可能遇到的困难和挑战。IASB的经验对我国相关会计准则国际趋同有借鉴作用。     

The Return of Stewardship,Reliability and Prudence – A Commentary on the IASB’s New Conceptual Framework

Abstract

In March 2018, the IASB published its revised conceptual framework including notable changes to the chapters on the objective of financial reporting and on qualitative characteristics. The IASB put more emphasis on stewardship as part of the decision usefulness objective, reintroduced prudence as an aspect of neutrality and introduced a tolerable level of measurement uncertainty (as a successor to reliability) as part of faithful representation. The present paper discusses the substance of and reasons for these changes in light of the history of the IASB’s work on conceptual frameworks. The paper also explores the possible impact of these changes on the IASB’s future standard-setting by looking at the other chapters of the IASB’s new framework. This paper finds that the more pronounced role of stewardship and the reintroduction of prudence do not seem to entail a revised conceptual thinking of the IASB in the other chapters, while the introduction of a tolerable level of measurement uncertainty provides the IASB with a conceptual tool with the potential to substantially affect future standard-setting debates. However, its positioning as part of faithful representation is questioned and an alternative arrangement of qualitative characteristics suggested.     

关于租赁会计准则修订的概况与分析

国际会计准则委员会(IASB)和美国财务会计准则委员会(FASB)经过近三年的准备,于2009年3月19日发布了<讨论稿——租赁:初步意见>(下称<讨论稿>),以期在广泛征求意见的基础上,取消对租赁的分类,统一各类租赁业务的会计核算,提高租赁业务会计信息的透明度、可信度和实用性.此调整使一直以来承租方记入表外反映的原经营性租赁资产,合理地反映在承租方的资产负债表中.本文对此次修订的原因、主要内容、可能产生的影响做了分析.     

Evaluation of the Impact of International Accounting Standards Board （IASB） Framework Concepts on the Public Accounting Profession

Accounting profession has, in recent times, been regulated mainly by the private accounting standard setters mainly the International Accounting Standards Board （IASB）, which has taken a center stage and redefined the accounting information systems beyond the knowledge discernment of the average users and stakeholders. Public accounting profession＇s overreliance on the ever-changing IASB conceptual frameworks and their subsequent publications International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRS） standards has strongly compromised the ethics and objectivity of the profession, especially the accounting fundamental qualitative characteristics of the fair representation. Public accountants are, by ethics, required to issue an accurate, independent, and objective opinion of the financial state of the reporting entity. A review of various literatures from the IASB and the related bodies including independent auditors was employed during the evaluation process so as to minimize bias and evaluate objectively. The results revealed that currently, the IASB conceptual frameworks and IFRS contain inconsistent and opposing objectives including an inconclusive definition of elements and measurement basis mainly of profit and loss transactions and other comprehensive income, and hence the public accounting profession has been ethically challenged and compromised. Financial reporting is now premised on estimates, judgments, and models as opposed to a definitive measurement in accounting. A recommendation of further study on the IASB fundamental qualitative characteristics of decision usefulness should be pursued objectively.     

IASB公允价值计量项目的进展及对我国的启示

次贷危机爆发后,公允价值面临前所未有的责难。二十国集团（G20）峰会倡议改进和完善公允价值会计准则。IASB拟对公允价值及其相关项目做重大修订。我国应充分借鉴其最新研究成果,以改进我国的公允价值会计体系。本文在介绍后危机时代IASB对公允价值计量项目的进展的基础上,结合我国实际,提出了我国进一步应用公允价值的建议。     

On the IASB’s construction of legitimacy – the case of the agenda consultation project

As an expertise-based private standard-setter, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) needs to work continuously to maintain its position as the uncontested rule-making authority of financial reporting in the international regulatory arena. The present paper analyses how the IASB constructs legitimacy in interaction with its constituents. We focus on the specific case of the IASB’s agenda consultation in 2011/2012 as this project was explicitly introduced by the IASB to promote its legitimacy. We carry out a comprehensive study of the agenda consultation that takes into account all board meetings, comment letters and public board activities. We show that the consultation activities in this project were used by the IASB to pronounce its user (investor) orientation, which, however, might be formal rather than substantial, and to integrate a loyal circle of constituents further. It is also shown that the IASB increasingly tried to portray agenda-setting (and standard-setting) as an objective and evidence-based procedure that resonates with constituents’ demands, although it might in fact enlarge the discretionary leeway of IASB (and staff) members.     

国际会计准则趋同探究

2008年美国证券交易委员会启动了废除美国会计准则的计划,此举意味着美国将全面放弃其公认的会计原则,努力实现和国际会计准则的趋同。与此同时,美国爆发了历史罕见的金融危机,在这场金融危机中,由于公允价值的计量问题,会计再一次被推上了风口浪尖。无论是国际会计准则委员会还是美国的财务会计准则委员会(FASB)都因此承担了巨大的压力。那么全球的会计准则是否最终会出现全球一统的局面?本文将予以初步探讨。     

A European view on the legitimacy of accounting procedures: Towards a deliberative-accountability framework for analysis

Accounting rules affect fundamental areas of social interaction encompassing groups that have diverse and conflicting interests regarding financial reporting. In the absence of a coherent social choice theory, concepts of legitimacy can be used to assess the acceptance of accounting standard-setting processes and their resulting norms. In this paper, we analyze the standard-setting process in Europe. Accounting rules in Europe are developed in a two-stage process involving both private standard-setting and public rule-making. From a structural perspective, the European Union (EU) is well positioned to develop legitimate accounting procedures. However, the original purpose and the ensuing legitimacy of its control mechanism are jeopardized when EU structures are used and sometimes abused for policy formation and the creation of EU-IFRS.