A MODEL OF SPECIFIC COGNATE ABILITY IN AN ACCOUNTING COURSE

This study proposes and tests a causal model to explain variations in performance in the New Zealand University Bursaries Accounting examination. The model was based on specific abilities in cognate subjects. The influence of the specific ability was characterised by the semipartial correlation coefficient of performance in the cognate subject examination with performance in the accounting examination. Performance in the examination and the semipartial correlation coefficients were independent of gender, the year of the examination and the combination of courses taken. The effects of specific ability in statistics and calculus were greater than those for the subjects of economics and English.     

THE RATE OF RETURN FROM INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORTS AND THE ALLOCATION PROBLEM IN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

Estimation theory in accounting explains how accountants allocate noncash expenditures to estimate such concepts as the firm's long run rate of return. If the accountant's goal in estimation is some high degree of precision, the usefulness of financial reports can be evaluated in light of that goal. In this study, the property of unbiasedness is identified with respect to the purposes of interim financial reports. Furthermore, the magnitude of the bias in estimates from financial reports is measured.     

AN EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF THE COMMUNICATION OF AUTHORITATIVE PRONOUNCEMENTS IN ACCOUNTING

The cloze procedure, a psycholinguistic technique, was used to empirically evaluate the communication of authoritative pronouncements in accounting. Three of the most recent pronouncements of five different authoritative bodies were tested via a random sample of 750 certified public accountants, 750 academic accountants, and 600 private accountants. Using the cloze procedure's 57% criterion level, evidence was found (contrary to expectations) that communication problems do not exist with either authoritative bodies or classes of accountants. However, evidence was found (as expected) that communication problems do exist with two of the fifteen authoritative pronouncements tested. I want to express my sincerest appreciation to the City University of New York PSC-BHE Research Award Program for the grant that made this project possible.     

金融业“十四五”发展规划设置法治篇的建议

2020年是全面建成小康社会和"十三五"规划收官之年,2021—2015年的"十四五"时期,是开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程的第一个五年,也是我国高水平开启现代化建设、向"第二个百年"目标奋进的第一个五年。目前"十四五"规划正在研究和编制中。11月3日发布的《中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十四个五年规划和二〇三五年远景目标的建议》(以下简称《规划建议》)对未来我国重点领域中改革开放和发展的热点难点问题进行了深度回应,引起了社会各界的广泛热议。     

国际金融衍生品市场分析

自1848年美国第一个期货交易所（芝加哥期货交易所）创立至今,衍生品市场已经有了160多年的历史。而纵观这160多年的发展历程,我们能清晰的认识到它的发展并不是一帆风顺。就像任何其他新生事物的出现一样,都需要经历一个由被怀疑到被认可、不成熟到成熟的过程。早期的衍生品市场因为缺乏制度的规范遭受过投机商的挑战,还曾数度被政府法令限制交易。     

ACCOUNTING FOR FINANCIAL AND MANAGERIAL CAUSES OF SHORT-TERM PRESSURES IN BRITISH CORPORATIONS

Short-term pressures are defined and a distinction drawn between external S-TP, mainly from shareholders, and internal S-TP, from top management. A conceptual framework for analysing S-TP is developed and empirical evidence for their existence reviewed. Although certain crude formulations of the argument for short-termism are rejected, evidence is found for the existence of both types of S-TP in the UK. Variations in their intensity among sectors can be accounted for partly by inherent differences in technology, and partly by differences in the behaviour of firms. Excessive diversification, particularly by acquisition, exacerbates S-TP.     

PRIOR ACCOUNTING EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE IN A FIRST-LEVEL UNIVERSITY COURSE IN NEW ZEALAND

This New Zealand study examined whether prior accounting education at school had a positive effect on performance in the corresponding first-level university course. The research question was tested using an ANCOVA. Proxies for academic ability were used as covariates so as to eliminate systematic bias in the samples. Prior study at the Bursary level carried a positive benefit. The findings were in agreement with the thesis that the level of conceptual accounting thought acquired at school, rather than the ability to manipulate figures in accordance with mechanical bookkeeping procedures, affected subsequent performance at university.     

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING REPORTS: A MARKET MODEL OF DISCLOSURE: A COMMENT

In a recent paper Bird and Locke concluded "that a freely operating market for accounting information, unencumbered with disclosure requirements, can work efficiently". The purpose of this Comment is to explain why this conclusion is unjustified. In particular it argues that our present understanding of the socalled 'Market' for information is so limited that no presumption, either for or against the efficiency of this market, can be given unequivocal theoretical support.     

AN EXPERIMENT IN THE USE OF DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS FOR EVALUATING THE EFFICIENCY OF UK UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS OF ACCOUNTING

One problem in evaluating the efficiency of public sector organisations is the lack of a single index of efficiency, such as profit, by which a significant element of aggregate performance of each organisation can be assessed. This article examines the potential of using data envelopment analysis to overcome such a problem in the context of an area of much current concern in the UK, namely that of assessing the efficiency of university departments. The methods involved are, however, equally applicable in other countries or in a wide range of public sector bodies. Data envelopment analysis was introduced to the accounting literature by its inventors, Charnes and Cooper (1980), but accountants generally seem to have overlooked its existence. This article aims to stimulate a greater interest in the technique and a widespread examination and evaluation of it in a variety of contexts.