Discussion of ‘Accounting Premium’ for IAS/IFRS and U.S. GAAP Vis-à-vis German GAAP”

Ernstberger and Vogler [Ernstberger, J. & Vogler, O. (2008-this issue). Analyzing the German Accounting Triad with an Enhanced Multifactor Model—‘Accounting Premium’ for IAS/IFRS and U.S. GAAP Vis-à-vis German GAAP. International Journal of Accounting.] employ the concurrent use of three distinct accounting-standard regimes (German GAAP; U.S. GAAP; and IAS/IFRS GAAP) in Germany as a foundation for evaluating the relation between accounting standard regime and equity-return attributes. They find that firms using U.S. or IAS/IFRS GAAP have higher betas but yield lower returns (cost of capital) relative to firms employing German GAAP. They also find that portfolios designed to isolate the return impacts of U.S. and IAS/IFRS GAAP relative to German GAAP are priced in a risk-factor-like fashion. In this discussion I suggest that a good bit of this empirical evidence is problematic. I also discuss the implausibility of information quality being priced in a Fama and French [Fama, E.F. & French, K.R. (1992). The Cross-Section of Expected Stock Returns. The Journal of Finance 47 (2): 427–465.] factor-like fashion. Finally, I introduce the importance of conditioning analyses of the relation between firm-level information quality and equity-market return (cost of capital) on the degree to which the shareholder base of a firm holds diversified portfolios.     

Attribute differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS earnings: An exploratory study

In this study we explore attribute differences between U.S. GAAP and IFRS earnings. Our study is motivated by the ongoing harmonization process in accounting standard setting as well as by recent convergence projects by the FASB and the IASB. We test two market-based earnings attributes, i.e., value relevance and timeliness, as well as two accounting-based earnings attributes, i.e., predictability and accrual quality. These attributes are tested for German New Market firms as they are allowed to choose between IFRS and U.S. GAAP for financial reporting purposes. Overall, we find that U.S. GAAP and IFRS only differ with regard to predictive ability. The fact that U.S. GAAP accounting information outperforms IFRS also holds after controlling for differences in firm characteristics, such as size, leverage and the audit firm. However, our results also seem to suggest that these differences are not fully valued by investors, as we do not observe significant and consistent differences for the value-relevance attribute.     

Inconsistency in U.S. Accounting Standards: The Treatment of Interest

Consistency is an essential part of financial reporting: it applies both to the continuous use of the same accounting principles by an entity from period to period, and to consistency between various accounting principles used by the same entity. In the development of accounting standards, risks to users of inconsistencies can be reduced by good disclosure requirements, particularly so between various pronouncements. A study examining the treatment of interest found inconsistencies in two-thirds of the relevant U.S. GAAP pronouncements.     

Examining the differences between United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) and International Accounting Standards (IAS): implications for the harmonization of accounting standards

Current trends indicate continued movement towards the harmonization of accounting standards, but not without difficulty and concern. At times, the political and financial market pressure, push the movement in opposite directions. The paper discusses the conceptual framework used in establishing Global Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) (International Accounting Standards, IAS) and U.S. GAAP. Numerous transactional examples are illustrated under both Global GAAP and U.S. GAAP treatment. Several country specific references are presented demonstrating the difficulty in achieving harmonization. Implications for harmonization of accounting standards include arguments “for” and “against” Global GAAP.     

Keeping Watch! Recounting Twenty-Five Years of the Office of Chief Accountant, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 1976–2001

This article adds to the literature of accounting regulation by providing background, including facts and circumstances relating to a quarter century of SEC activity preceding the events identified with the reshaping of the capital markets following the dot.com collapse and the attack on the World Trade Center, 11 September 2001. The subsequent collapse of Enron, the bankruptcy of Worldcom, the dissolution of Andersen, one of the Big Five accounting firms, and the passage in the United States of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, collectively have ushered in a new era of public–private capital market relationships. This study provides guidance and outlines topics useful to future researchers undertaking assessments of regulatory policies and the individuals involved in their administration.
From 1976 to 2001 five individuals played a significant role in the development of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's disclosure and reporting practices by virtue of their office and the collective influence of their views. A. Clarence Sampson (1976–87), Edmund Coulson (1988–91), Walter P. Schuetze (1992–95), Michael H. Sutton (1995–98) and Lynn E. Turner (1998–2001) directed accounting policy activities at the SEC during these years.     

探析中美贸易逆差的原因及影响

近年来,随着中美经贸关系的日益紧密,分析不断扩大的美中贸易逆差具有十分重要的意义。本文主要研究了美中贸易逆差的原因和影响,结构安排如下：首先交代了研究背景,通过一些数据介绍了美中贸易逆差的现状,批出研究此问题的必要性。第二部分,分别采用国际收支平衡原理和要素禀赋定理两种方法进行分析,得出美国的国内政策是造成美国经济项目赤字的主要原因的结论,同进批出了一些流行说法的纰漏之处。可以看到,在全球储蓄结构巨大失衡情况下,单单通过削减美国财政赤字或通过人民币升值,都不有解决巨额美中贸易逆差。这一问题的解决需要中美双方的政策协调。     

美国联邦政府财务报告编制与审计研究

上世纪90年代开始的美国联邦政府财务报告编制与审计改革是联邦政府加强财务管理的一项重要内容。经过多次改革,形成了以权责发生制为主要会计计量基础的联邦政府财务报告体系,和以审计署的外部审计与监察长办公室的内部审计相结合的联邦政府财务报告审计模式。当前这种财务报告体系与审计模式仍处于发展与完善过程中,需不断改进财务信息质量和强化审计的作用。     

The reaction of the Australian financial markets to the interest rate news from the Reserve Bank of Australia and the U.S. Fed

This paper provides comprehensive evidence on the impacts of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) and the U.S. Fed's target interest rate announcement news on the Australian financial markets over the period 1998–2006. The RBA's news had a significant impact on the first moments of market returns/changes in line with a priori expectations, and the conditional volatility in most of the markets was significantly higher following the news. Asymmetric news effect is also observed for the Australian interest rates where markets tended to respond more strongly to unexpected rate rises than rate falls. While the U.S. Fed's news influenced only the USD/AUD exchange rate, the Australian market volatility was significantly lower in all market segments following the Fed's news.     

中国高额持有美国国债的风险与对策

美国国债曾是公认的最安全的投资品。2001年以来,中国持有的美国国债随外汇储备的快速增长而增加;美国国债规模也随美国"双赤字"的扩大而膨胀。美国的政治生态及美元的霸权特性使得美国的"双赤字"难于控制,美国国债的潜在风险日益显现。中国主要面临退出困难及债权资产实际价值可能大幅缩水的困扰。建议中国利用最大债主的地位制约美国以维护自身权益;同时控制外汇储备增量优化外汇储备结构以掌握风险控制的主动权。     

美国证券域外纠纷诉权新解

2010年6月美国联邦最高法院审结的莫里森案,是美国证券法发展史上的重要节点,代表了全球化背景下最大资本市场在处理涉外欺诈纠纷问题上的转向。以往的行为和影响标准被否定,交易标准得到强调,《证券交易法》第10(b)条的适用范围被限缩,存托凭证和国外基础证券受到区别对待。此后一年间,尽管不无争议,莫里森案判决和交易标准被下级法院广泛援引,并经受住了Dodd-Frank法案的考验。由此释放出的信号包括,美国有意愿加强公共执法和国际多边合作。     

美国投资银行危机及其转型剖析

本文通过分析美国投资银行经营模式的缺陷,找出2008年美国投资银行危机及其转型的深刻原因。分析结果显示,融资模式的缺陷、过度依赖高风险业务是美国投资银行危机的内因,而外部监管漏洞放任了投资银行的经营管理,是投资银行危机的重要外因。投资银行危机促使美国主要独立投资银行转型为全能银行经营模式,这是美国银行业发展一个重要的转折点。但危机仅仅是投资银行转型的诱因,全能银行经营模式的相对优势是美国独立投资银行转型的根本原因。     

英美两国中小企业税收政策比较及借鉴

给中小企业以一定的税收优惠是西方各国普遍采用的扶持中小企业的政策措施。纵观各国的历史，中小企业发展及其所在地取得的巨大成就都是与政府采取的积极政策尤其是税收政策分不开的。英国是世界上最早实现经济现代化的国家，中小企业所……     

美国的新贸易保护主义与我国必须应对的挑战

美国对中国的巨额贸易逆差主要是美国自身的产业结构问题造成的,并且美国实行限制对中国高技术转让的贸易政策,自己封闭了实现贸易平衡的渠道。在WTO机制下,美国一方面坐享贸易自由化的成果,另一方面又不愿其他国家也分得一杯羹;旨在推行世界贸易自由化的世贸组织,也对各国的贸易争端持务实的态度,承认贸易保护在双边和多边谈判中的重要作用,这是美国的新贸易保护主义盛行的本质原因。美国等西方国家的贸易保护政策严重损害了我国的贸易利益,我们必须妥善应对。     

美国经常账户失衡:表现、理论与政策——兼驳伯南克“世界储蓄过剩”论

本文考察了美国经常账户失衡的发展过程,指出了其对手方的国别与地区结构特点,随后总结了对该现象的有关研究和解释。文章简述了伯南克世界储蓄过剩论,指出了该观点论证逻辑中的错误,然后分析了其理论分析框架——储蓄缺口模型与新古典增长模型对美国经常账户失衡解释的不适用。     

美国银行业账户管理费实证研究

本文分析美国不同规模银行账户管理费的定价差异和规律,在基于统计数据的基础上发现:对于支票账户,大银行、小银行支票账户余额要求与账户管理费水平之间呈正相关关系,大银行采取的是低起点、高余额、高账户管理费的定价策略,而小银行采取的是高起点、低余额、低账户管理费的定价策略;对于储蓄账户,大银行储蓄账户开户起点与账户管理费、资产规模之间呈正相关关系,而小银行呈负相关关系,大银行采取的是低起点、低利率、高余额、低账户管理费定价策略,小银行采取的是高起点、高利率、低余额、高账户管理费定价策略.美国银行业账户管理费的做法对我国银行业的经营实践具有一定的借鉴意义.     

美国金融危机对中国商业银行竞争力的影响研究

利用《银行家》杂志提供的2006～2009年全球前1000家银行的财务指标数据,运用改进的蛛网模型分析国内外具有代表性的商业银行竞争力,研究显示2007～2008年,中国商业银行受到美国金融危机的负面影响要小,整体竞争力在此期间要高于国际大银行;在金融危机影响逐渐消退的2009年,中国商业银行竞争力相对于国际大银行有明显的下降,经营稳定性也远不如国际大银行。因此,中国商业银行应继续提升盈利能力和经营稳定性,增强自身的抗风险能力。     

探析中美贸易逆差的原因及影响

近年来,随着中美经贸关系的日益紧密,分析不断扩大的美中贸易逆差具有十分重要的意义.本文主要研究了美中贸易逆差的原因和影响,结构安排如下:首先交代了研究背景,通过一些数据介绍了美中贸易逆差的现状,指出研究此问题的必要性.第二部分,分别采用国际收支平衡原理和要素禀赋定理两种方法进行分析,得出美国的国内政策是造成美国经常项目赤字的主要原因的结论,同时指出了一些流行说法的纰漏之处.可以看到,在全球储蓄结构巨大失衡的情况下,单单通过削减美国财政赤字或通过人民币升值,都不能解决巨额美中贸易逆差.这一问题的解决需要中美双方的政策协调.     

Hot Money and Quantitative Easing: The Spillover Effects of U.S. Monetary Policy on the Chinese Economy

We develop a factor‐augmented vector autoregression (FA‐VAR) model to estimate the effects that unanticipated changes in U.S. monetary policy and economic policy uncertainty have on the Chinese housing, equity, and loan markets. We find the decline in the U.S. policy rate since the Great Recession has led to a significant increase in Chinese housing investment. One possible reason for this effect is the substantial increase in the inflow of “hot money” into China. The responses of Chinese variables to U.S. shocks at the zero lower bound are different from those responses in normal times.     

美国金融体系的利率风险分析——以次贷危机的引发和扩散为例

本文通过实证方法探讨次贷危机引发和扩散中的利率风险问题。主要结论是:从长期利率角度看,对房市的"松"货币政策从2001年降息一直持续到2005年6月;过低的长期利率会过度挤压金融机构放贷的长期收益,进而增大金融体系的利率风险。次贷危机的直接原因是,高利率、强美元导致的大量外资流入与混合调息抵押初始低利率相结合,共同推动了高风险次贷的发放;在高息和房价下跌条件下,大量混合调息抵押集中进入初次利率重置期,导致次贷违约状况的急速恶化。次贷危机扩散中,尽管联邦基金利率快速下降,但高风险的金融环境导致低利率对增加金融市场流动性的刺激作用失效。