Institutional Change of Accounting Systems: The Adoption of a Regime of Adapted International Financial Reporting Standards

Richard Mattessich, New York: Garland Publishing (New Works in Accounting History), 2000, £43.00, xii +179pp. ISBN: 0-8153-3445-1     

Between Rules and Incentives: Uncovering Hayek's Moral Economy

This article uncovers Hayek's moral economy. It focuses on the relation between markets, as well as on the nonmarket institutions on which the former rely, and the motivations that guide individuals' behavior. Despite his epistemological admonitions, Hayek has a rich set of suggestions about the functional importance of particular individuals' motivation and moral makeup for the development of a market society. This contributes to undermine his claims that a market society can be neutral among different values.     

Numeric or weighted distribution? The effect of different channel performance metrics on market share

Abstract

Previous studies have found a convex relation between weighted measures of distribution and market share for consumer products in developed economies, while companies in emerging markets often use a non-weighted (numeric) distribution measure to manage their channel strategy. In contrast to the markets with high retail concentration, the numeric distribution could be best suited to a more fragmented retail market in which the percentage of physical distribution is important. We investigate the effects of expanding numeric versus expanding weighted distribution by studying stores in channels and regions characterized by structural differences in an emerging market. Our data come from retail audits in Brazil and include 91 soft drink manufacturers, 195 brands and 1,110 stock-keeping units. Our study highlights the importance of numeric distribution as a performance measure in this market. Additionally, we show that the effects of numeric and weighted distribution on market share vary by region and channel format.     

A fuzzy model to assess the resilience of Protection and Civil Defense Organizations

Resilience is the intrinsic ability of a system to adjust its functioning prior to, during, or following changes and disturbances, so that it can sustain required operations under expected and unexpected conditions. Protection and Civil Defense Organizations (PCDOs), communities and cities deal with disaster management involving routine, non-routine and even unpredictable/unforeseen situations with varying degrees of complexity. It is important that such organizations continually assess their resilience, enable them to learn on their weaknesses and real capacities to cope with emergency situations. This research aimed the development of an Organization Resilience Indicator System (ORIS) based on a fuzzy model to enable PCDOs self-assesses their resilience. Based on a literature review on organizational and community’s resilience, a system of resilience indicators was defined. This system was validated by experts using fuzzy set theory to aggregate opinions in the development of a resilience ideal pattern. Then, the resilience of four PCDO organizations was self-evaluated. The results were accordingly to maturity level of the organizations evaluated, indicating that the ORIS is valuable to measure PCDOs resilience.     

Tourist expectations and perception of service providers: a Brazilian perspective

Service Business - This research studies the formation of tourist expectations around a tourist destination and the existence of a knowledge gap between this group and perceptions of tourism...     

English mercantilist influences on the foundation of the Portuguese School of Commerce in 1759

The Portuguese School of Commerce, founded in 1759, is promoted frequently as the world's first official, government-sponsored school to offer formal instruction in commerce. This paper contends that Sebastião Carvalho e Melo (1699–1782), the Marquis of Pombal, was responsible for the transfer, from England to Portugal, of the educational “know how” instrumental to the School's success. Pombal was influenced by the English mercantilism he observed as the Portuguese ambassador to England (1738–43), particularly proposals by a writer on mercantilism, Malachy Postlethwayt, for academy-based commercial education in England. Another influence on Pombal was former East India Company employee, John Cleland. Pombal's motives were to imitate the success of British mercantilism, develop trade and economic activity in Portugal, and improve and expand Portugal's merchant class.     

Factors affecting success in the professional entry exam for accountants in Brazil

This paper explores factors that have affected the success of candidates in the professional entry exam conducted by Brazil’s Federal Council of Accounting. We analyse results of 18,948 candidates who sat for the exam in 2012, using a logistic regression model and the key indicators used by government to monitor the performance of higher education institutions (HEIs) and the characteristics of candidates. We find that success is related positively to the quality of the HEIs from which candidates graduated and to a measure of student ability that is used widely in Brazil. We find also that males perform better than females and that younger candidates perform better than older candidates. The geographical region of Brazil within which candidates completed the exam was also significant. The insights provided will help public policy-makers in Brazil, and the Brazilian accounting profession, to understand key factors associated with current low pass rates.     

Goodwill and Mandatory Disclosure Compliance: A Critical Review of the Literature

The aim of this paper is to critically analyse the literature published from 2002 to mid‐2015 on disclosures of goodwill and their respective impairment tests; identify the main contributions of the literature, as well as its limitations; and suggest new approaches for future research. We also present a summary of the main determinants of disclosures on goodwill in the literature as well as the still scarce studies’ conclusions of those disclosures in the market. After a review of the literature, we discuss the need to reinforce enforcement mechanisms, so as to improve the level of compliance of disclosures on goodwill and their impairment tests. The majority of the analysed literature reveals that the information disclosed about goodwill is incomplete and largely heterogeneous, indicating a reduced level of compliance with the disclosures required by accounting standards. The paper may support the development of future empirical studies about goodwill's disclosures, which will bridge the identified gaps in the literature.     

The origins of modern accounting in Brazil: Influences leading to the adoption of IFRS

Despite the increasing importance of Brazil, there has been little documentation of how accounting developed and about the significant formative influences involved. This paper explores the significant influences on Brazilian accounting and the path to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Several important influences are emphasized: the equity theory of the Italian school of accounting in the early 20th century; the birth of the Brazilian accounting profession in 1931 and the certified accountants association in 1946; the impact of US trade and American accounting in the 1950s; and the high rates of inflation that occurred from the beginning of the 1960s. Modern Brazilian accounting had its beginning in the 1970s with the development of the stock market, the reforms of the financial system, and the decrease of tax influences on accounting. The globalization process and the need for Brazilian accounting to converge with international accounting led to the decision to adopt IFRS in 2007.