Does Mandatory Adoption of IFRS improve Accounting Quality? Preliminary Evidence

Author(s):  
Anwer S. Ahmed ◽  
Michael J. Neel ◽  
Dechun Wang
2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Lin Chua ◽  
Chee Seng Cheong ◽  
Graeme Gould

ABSTRACT Following the mandatory implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Australia as of January 1, 2005, this study examines its impact on accounting quality by focusing on three perspectives: (1) earnings management, (2) timely loss recognition, and (3) value relevance. Using four years of adoption experience since the mandate was first made effective in Australia for a wide range of accounting-based metrics and market-based information, we find that the mandatory adoption of IFRS has resulted in better accounting quality than previously under Australian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In particular, the findings indicate that the pervasiveness of earnings management by way of smoothing has reduced, while the timeliness of loss recognition has improved post-adoption. Additionally, the value relevance of financial statement information has improved, especially for non-financial firms. This is despite the fact that there is evidence to suggest that financial firms are engaged in managing earnings toward a small positive target after the mandatory adoption of IFRS in Australia.


2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Zeghal ◽  
Sonda M. Chtourou ◽  
Yosra M. Fourati

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the question whether the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is associated with higher accounting quality. More specifically, we investigate whether the application of IFRS in 15 European Union (EU) countries is associated with less earnings management and higher timeliness, conditional conservatism, and value relevance of accounting numbers. Our results suggest that there has been some improvement in accounting quality between the pre- and post-IFRS adoption periods. In particular, we find that firms exhibit an increase in the accounting-based attributes, but a decrease in the market-based after the adoption of IFRS in 2005. Interestingly, the findings are more pronounced for the firms in countries where the distance between the pre-existing national GAAP and IFRS is important. Furthermore, we are unable to identify any change within firms that have converged their local GAAP toward IFRS before the mandatory transition.


Author(s):  
Sinem Ates

This chapter aims to investigate whether the mandatory adoption of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) leads to an increase in the accounting quality measured by value relevance and the role of the national institutional factors, namely development of the capital market, legal enforcement, cultural factors, legal systems, and book-tax conformity, in the change in value relevance after IFRS adoption. Towards this end, the price and financial data of listed firms from eleven EU countries for 15 years were examined by panel data methods. The results of this study indicate that mandatory adoption of IFRS leads to an increase in the value relevance of EPS however it has not a significant effect on the value relevance of BVPS. It is also found that, among the national institutional factors, legal enforcement, cultural factors, and book-tax conformity have a significant effect on the change in value relevance after IFRS adoption.


Author(s):  
Yosra Mnif Sellami ◽  
Imen Slimi

This research investigates the effect of mandatory transition of South African companies to IFRS on earnings management, essential attribute of accounting quality. Specifically, the study examines whether the mandatory adoption of IFRS is associated with reduction of earnings management and therefore, an improvement of accounting quality. In addition, the paper focuses on the effect of corporate governance factors on earnings management.Earnings management is assessed by the magnitude of discretionary accruals and accruals quality. The paper compares earnings management in the pre-mandatory IFRS adoption period; 2002-2004 and the post IFRS adoption period; 2010-2012. This study focuses on a sample of 276 firm-year observations, 46 firms drawn from the 413 South African listed companies. A regression model was applied to examine the relation between mandatory adoption of IFRS, corporate governance mechanisms and discretionary accruals controlling for other some factors explaining earnings management.Our findings show that mandatory adoption of IFRS by South African companies is associated with lower earnings management. This result suggests that mandatory transition to IFRS contribute to an improvement in the quality of accounting information. Furthermore, results show that the percentage of independent outside directors, the separation of roles of CEO and Chairman of the board and company size have significant influence on reducing discretionary accruals.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Morais ◽  
Ana Fialho ◽  
Andreia Dionísio

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence regarding the classification of European countries based on accounting quality metrics. The authors investigate whether the grouping of countries based on accounting quality levels differs from other classifications based on accounting practices or country-specific factors identified in previous studies. Design/methodology/approach The authors run panel data regressions for 2.078 European listed companies using value relevance and earnings smoothing metrics. The authors also apply cluster analysis to classify the countries. Findings The results suggest that the adoption of a common set of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) did not lead to a similar level of accounting quality of financial information. The authors identified three clusters of countries that are not coincident with previous classifications. Research limitations/implications The results show that the adoption of different accounting practices allowed in IFRS does not necessarily influence accounting quality. Practical implications The results suggest that the way regulators decided to incorporate IFRS into national accounting systems is one issue that may be relevant in explaining the three clusters. Originality/value The paper provides empirical evidence that supports two theoretical assertions. The first is that a classification depends entirely on the characteristics used to represent the countries being classified. The second is that the adoption of a single set of accounting standards does not determine similar accounting practices and does not lead to similar levels of accounting quality.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwalomwa Uwuigbe ◽  
Francis Kehinde Emeni ◽  
Olubukola Ranti Uwuigbe ◽  
Maryjane Chojakeme Ataiwrehe

This paper examined whether mandatory adoption of IFRS is associated with improvement in accounting quality of banks listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The study made use of secondary data; data were extracted from financial statements from 2010 – 2013. The data were analyzed using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) from SPSS. The findings of the study revealed that after the adoption of IFRS, the rate at which Nigerian banks engage in income smoothing increased, while earnings management towards small positive earnings reduced, thus reducing the quality of accounting amount disclosed in the financial statements. The findings of this study have effect on the efficiency of the stock market. Therefore, other bodies, such as SEC, BOFIA, among others should put in place measures that will limit the extent to which bank managers uses their discretion and alternatives in accounting standards to manage earnings.


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