国际财务报告准则的发展——会计准则的国际趋同

随着会计准则的国际趋同,世界上越来越多的国家采用国际财务报告准则(IFRSs).2005年,欧盟25个成员国、澳大利亚、新西兰、南非和俄罗斯等国约有15000家上市公司均遵循IFRS编制年度财务报表.美国约有15000家在美国证券交易委员会(SEC)注册登记的公司,采用的是美国公认会计原则(U.S.GAAP).所以,世界上大多数大型企业是按这两套会计准则体系编制财务报表的.双方准则制定者都同意在确认和计量的规则上走向趋同.美国财务会计准则委员会(FASB)主席认为,在2010年双方准则之间的主要差异将趋消失.     

主权国家会计准则与国际财务报告准则趋同的经验及启示——以澳大利亚为例

在会计准则国际趋同的潮流下 ,如何既顺应这种发展潮流 ,又适当照顾本国国情的需要 ,这是每一个主权国家都需要应对的重大现实问题。近年来澳大利亚对会计准则国际趋同所采取的一系列积极客观的措施以及有关经验 ,对所有的主权国家 (尤其是希望保持会计特色的我国 )具有强烈的启示作用     

国际财务报告准则变革对中国银行业的影响

国际金融危机的爆发,引发了二十国集团(G20)峰会和金融稳定理事会(FSB)对建立全球统一的高质量会计准则达成共识,提出了对现行国际财务报告准则进行修订的要求。国际会计准则理事会(IASB)针对公允价值这一金融危机中的核心问题进行了修订。本文在中国会计准则国际趋同的背景下,分析研究国际财务报告准则修订对我国银行业将会产生的影响,并就如何应对新准则的问题,维护银行金融业的稳定提出了相应的对策建议。     

国际财务报告准则全球扩散的制度逻辑:经验证据与中国策略

虽然全球大部分经济体已采纳或向国际财务报告准则(IFRS)趋同,但各经济体采纳和运用IFRS的策略并不相同.研究通过手工收集数据识别了2000-2020年间全球162个经济体在"采纳"和"运用"IFRS两个环节、六个决策点上的显著差异.研究还从制度逻辑及政策扩散视角分析并检验了IFRS全球扩散的文化、政治及市场逻辑.实证结果表明,与盎格鲁撒克逊文化距离越远、国际政治地位越高及协调型市场经济体更迟采纳IFRS,且更倾向以有保留的方式运用IFRS;而与盎格鲁撒克逊文化距离越近、国际政治地位越低及传统自由市场经济体更早采纳IFRS,且更倾向以无保留的方式运用IFRS.进一步分析表明,当IFRS扩散面临不同制度逻辑冲突时,政治逻辑与市场逻辑较之于文化逻辑更易成为主导逻辑.研究还发现,在IFRS制定中掌握更多话语权及具有先发优势的经济体并不积极采纳IFRS.研究最后阐释了中国会计准则国际趋同策略的制度逻辑,并为全球经济治理变局下中国会计准则进一步国际趋同提供政策建议.     

美国应用国际财务报告准则的策略选择研究与启示

本文研究了美国从技术层面和政策层面应用国际财务报告准则的策略选择,将美国证监会的相关决策历程划分为四个阶段,对其极有可能采取的"趋同认可"策略进行了深度剖析,吸收其可借鉴的经验,为我国继续做好会计准则国际趋同、深入参与国际财务报告准则制定工作提出有关政策建议。     

关于中国企业会计准则与国际财务报告准则持续全面趋同问题

为响应G20峰会提出的建立全球高质量会计准则的倡议,IASB拟对系列准则进行重大修改,包括:将金融工具的分类从现行的四类简化为以摊余成本和公允价值计量两类,并禁止重分类;对公允价值进行重新定义,强调公允价值估值技术必须与市场法、收益法或成本法一致;在财务报表中引入综合收益,并按照营业活动、筹资活动对三张报表进行分类;其他准则的后续修订仍在继续。我国作为新兴市场经济国家,企业经济业务有其特殊性。财政部发布了《中国企业会计准则与国际财务报告准则持续全面趋同路线图(征求意见稿)》,会计理论和实务工作者应当积极行动起来,抓住机遇、迎接挑战,积极参与IASB的准则修订,促进全球统一的高质量会计准则充分考虑新兴市场经济国家的实际,并积极消除中国企业会计准则与国际财务报告准则现存的极少差异,实现会计准则的持续全面趋同。     

中国企业会计准则与国际财务报告准则持续全面趋同路线图(征求意见稿)

会计准则国际趋同是一个国家经济发展和经济全球化的必然选择.自2005年以来,中国建成了与国际财务报告准则实质性趋同的企业会计准则体系,实现了新旧转换和平稳有效实施,并处于亚洲和新兴市场经济国家前列.     

对国际财务报告准则的思考及对策探究

在经济日趋全球化的境况下,国际财务报告准则为了适应经济的快速发展进行了重大改革,主要针对概念框架、金融资产的分类、公允价值计量、财务报表等四个方面进行了修整,我国在这一问题上进行了深刻思考并就如何更加深入国际财务报告准则的编制工作进行了对策研究。     

国际财务报告准则的发展——会计准则的国际趋同

随着会计准则的国际趋同，世界上越来越多的国家采用国际财务报告准则（IFRSS）。2005年，欧盟25个成员国、澳大利亚、新西兰、南非和俄罗斯等国约有15000家上市公司均遵循IFRS编制年度财务报表。美国约有15000家在美国证券交易委员会（SEC）注册登记的公司，但采用的是美国公认会计原则（U．S．GAAP）。所以，世界上大多数大型企业是按这两套会计准则体系编制财务报表的。双方准则制定者都同意在确认和计量的规则上走向趋同。美国财务会计准则委员会（FASB）主席认为，在2010年双方准则之间的主要差异将趋消失。     

国际财务报告准则实施进展与经验

近年来,经济发展导致融资竞争更加激烈,经济资源跨境流动愈加频繁,能够向潜在投资者提供可靠可比的财务报表的企业,更有可能吸引国内外的投资。联合国已成为其成员国就可靠和可比的公司报表问题交换意见和经验的重要论坛。2007年10月31日至11月1日,联合国贸易和发展会议在瑞士日内瓦召开了第24届国际会计和报告标准政府间专家工作组(ISAR)会议。会议的主题之一是国际财务报告准则(IFRS)具体实施中的国际经验。巴基斯坦、南非和土耳其三国代表分别以案例研究的形式介绍了本国实施IFRS以来的经验和教训。以下对此次会议的主要内容作一综述,以便大家更多地了解国际财务报告准则研究与实施中的一些情况。     

IFRS implementation in the European Union and the survival of accounting families

This study examines eight IFRS implementation choices available to European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) member countries under the EU's 2002 IAS Regulation. Great disparities in IFRS implementation exist among the countries covered under the Regulation, including statistically significant differences in the IFRS elections for financial and non-financial firms. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, a classification of EU and EEA member countries according to similarities and differences in their IFRS implementation is developed, which identifies an IFRS antagonistic, an IFRS leaning, and an IFRS integrated group. These groupings may provide a springboard for future studies on effects of IFRS implementation differences. Following Meek and Thomas (2004) call to study the continuing relevance of taxonomies of accounting systems in the IFRS era, the study also provides evidence for a survival of the traditional micro-based vs. macro-uniform, strong vs. weak equity market, and outsider vs. insider economy classifications of accounting systems into the IFRS implementation decisions of EU and EEA member countries. These results suggest that traditional accounting system classifications remain important in the post-IFRS era.     

Choices in IFRS Adoption in Spain: Determinants and Consequences

New Spanish GAAP based on IFRS came into force for separate financial statements in 2008. Companies were allowed to choose between 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2008 as their transition date. The first option commits companies to presenting comparative statements while the second allows them to disclose only the adjustments in equity. We analyze the determinants of companies that decided to choose early transition and also the consequences of this choice on the main accounting figures and ratios. Our results show that the determinants of the early transition date are size and growth. As for the consequences, there is a significant change in the accounting figures and ratios and therefore comparability may be impaired.     

Financial reporting for sustainable development: Critical insights into IFRS implementation in the European Union

By adopting a political economy perspective to accounting, this paper provides an overall post-implementation assessment of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption relative to the European Union’s (EU’s) fundamental goal of sustainable development. The paper questions the consistency of the International Accounting Standards Board’s business view with the EU’s and provides some critical insights into the potential long-run effects of IFRS on the European economy and society. Therefore, it raises several doubts about unquestioned accounting standardization at a global level and makes some suggestions for future policymaking and research.     

Due Process and the Adoption of IFRS IN New Zealand

This paper reviews the decision to adopt IFRS in New Zealand and the subsequent decisions made on implementation of adoption. The emphasis of the review is on due process. The paper outlines the current regulatory structure for financial reporting in New Zealand, describes how the decision to adopt IFRS was made, and evaluates the due process followed in making the decision to adopt IFRS and in implementation of the decision. We conclude that the limited due process followed in making the decision to move to IFRS and in developing each New Zealand standard was adequate. However, the method adopted for converting international standards to New Zealand standards did not go through sufficient due process.     

IFRS Adoption in Emerging Markets: The Case of Jordan

The aim of this study is to research the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Jordan, which was one of the first Middle Eastern emerging economies to adopt IFRS. The paper investigates the related factors that pressure and prevent such adoption over time, and illustrates the developmental aspects of such adoption. An interpretive methodology is employed, and perceptions of the study's participants are analysed regarding the adoption of IFRS in Jordan, which is an area that is under researched. Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken to collect Jordanian experts’ perceptions. Based on the empirical data analysis and prior theoretical and empirical literature, an adoption model was developed, which can serve future studies as well. The model illustrates the paradox of accounting changes in emerging economies, in which the actual conditions that pressure IFRS adoption are also the conditions that prevent full adoption. The model also provides an explanation of the implementation process of IFRS in emerging economies at both country and corporation levels. It combines practical features and related theories in an integrative model seeking to explain the phenomenon of IFRS as a new accounting regulation change.     

The Effect of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Conditional Conservatism in Europe

We study the effect of mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Europe in 2005 on conditional conservatism. We capture conditional conservatism with a modified version of the Khan and Watts measure (C_Score) that also controls for potential shifts in unconditional conservatism and cost of capital. From a sample of 13,711 firm‐year observations drawn from 16 European countries spanning the 2000–2010 period, we document an overall decline in the degree of conditional conservatism after the adoption of IFRS. We show that the decline in conditional conservatism is less pronounced for countries with high quality audit environments and strong enforcement of compliance with accounting standards using the Brown et al. audit and enforcement index. As asset impairment tests are a key mechanism ensuring conditional conservatism in the IFRS framework, we further examine these. We show that firms booking an asset impairment present a smaller decline in the degree of conditional conservatism relative to firms that do not. We also demonstrate that firms that do not book an asset impairment when evidence suggests the probable need to do so experience a more pronounced reduction in conditional conservatism. We argue that IFRS are conceptually conditionally conservative but that inappropriate application of conditional conservatism principles is likely to prevent financial reporting from reaching the level of conservatism targeted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).     

IFRS Adoption and Stock Prices of Japanese Firms in Governance System Transition

This study examines firms' decision to voluntarily adopt IFRS in a setting where there are changes to the governance system in a traditionally code law country, as well as how the market responds to such decisions. We find the probability of voluntary IFRS adoption to be higher among firms that have a high proportion of foreign shareholders, undertake quality audits, have low levels of leverage, feature a nominating committee, and are included in the new market index. In addition, the stock prices of IFRS adopters tend to increase around the announcement date of IFRS adoption, compared to those of non-adopters. Finally, market reactions are smaller for firms that feature a nominating committee, and are included in the new market index—perhaps because IFRS adoption by these firms is less surprising to market participants, and because IFRS adoption is not expected to add large incremental value to these firms.     

The Effects of IFRS 7 Adoption on Bank Disclosure in Europe

With the endorsement of IFRS 7, which became effective in 2007, the European regulation of bank disclosures has substantially changed. Using a sample of 171 banks from 28 European countries, I analyze the effect of the standard's first-time adoption on disclosure quality. I find that disclosure quality has generally increased both in financial statements and in risk reports but that the focus of disclosures has shifted from market risk exposures to credit risk exposures. The effect of the first-time adoption strongly varies across countries. These variations can be explained by differences in the enforcement and interpretation of IFRS 7 by national banking supervision. Using supervisory practices in Denmark, Italy and the UK as representative examples, I distinguish between an interventionist and a non-interventionist approach. The findings suggest that it is not only the content of IFRS 7 but also the enforcement of the standard that accounts for the increase in disclosure quality. With respect to the enforcement of bank disclosures, the results therefore support recent proposals by the De Laroisière High Level Expert Group to harmonize financial supervision within the EU.     

The Impact in the United States of Global Adoption of IFRS

This paper presents the pros and cons of the use of IFRS by US companies. The quest for one set of high-quality accounting standards recognised globally is clearly the ideal goal. However, before making a decision on the use of IFRS in the United States (US), the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) should develop a blueprint to ensure that prerequisites for achieving a true global standard are satisfied and that convergence will continue. An 'improve and then adopt' approach appears to represent the best way forward for the US.     

Contractibility and Transparency of Financial Statement Information Prepared Under IFRS: Evidence from Debt Contracts Around IFRS Adoption

We outline several properties of IFRS that potentially affect the contractibility or the transparency of financial statement information, and hence the use of that information in debt contracts. Those properties include the increased choice among accounting rules IFRS gives to managers, enhanced rule‐making uncertainty, and increased emphasis on fair value accounting. Consistent with reduced contractibility of IFRS financial statement information, we find a significant reduction in accounting‐based debt covenants following mandatory IFRS adoption. The reduction in accounting covenant use is associated with measures of the difference between prior domestic standards and IFRS. Because IFRS adoption changed financial reporting in many ways simultaneously, it is difficult to trace the decline in accounting covenant use to individual IFRS properties, though we report larger declines in accounting covenant use in banks, which have a higher proportion of assets and liabilities that are fair‐valued. Our findings are better explained by reduced contractibility than by increased transparency, which would predict reduced nonaccounting covenant use as well, whereas we observe increases. Overall, we conclude that IFRS rules sacrifice debt contracting usefulness to achieve other objectives, such as provision of accounting information relevant to valuation.