The Effect of Mandatory Adoption of IFRS on Earnings Quality: Evidence from the European Union

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Zeghal ◽  
Sonda M. Chtourou ◽  
Yosra M. Fourati
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Accounting Numbers ◽  
Mandatory Adoption

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.

The Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Accounting Quality: Evidence from Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Lin Chua ◽  
Chee Seng Cheong ◽  
Graeme Gould
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mandatory Adoption ◽  
The Impact

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.

A Review of the Literature on IFRS Adoption From the Perspective of the Value Relevance

2019 ◽  
pp. 367-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melik Ertuğrul
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Archival Research ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Mandatory Adoption ◽  
The Impact

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-based financial reporting has become widespread all around the world especially after its mandatory adoption in the European Union in 2005. There are several objectives of IFRS-based financial reporting, all of which depends on the idea of a single set of high-quality standards as frequently highlighted by promoters of IFRS. This literature review depicts a comprehensive picture of the archival research on the impact of IFRS-based reporting on capital markets from the perspective of the value relevance (VR) concept. First, the VR concept, as well as models employed to measure the VR, are described. Afterwards, selected studies of the archival research are grouped, summarized, and discussed. Finally, archival research is methodologically analyzed by considering different dimensions. All in all, this literature review provides information on IFRS adoption from the perspective of the VR.

scholarly journals The Impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Adoption on The Accounting Quality of Listed Companies In Kenya

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erick Rading Outa
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
International Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Timely Loss Recognition

AbstractThis study seeks to establish if the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Kenya has been associated with higher accounting quality for listed companies. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), in its objectives and preamble, supposes that the beneficial effects from IFRS adoption include transparency, accounting quality and reduced cost of capital. Based on these assumptions, this study applied accounting quality measures; earnings management, timely loss recognition and value relevance to find out whether the adoption of IFRS has led to improvements in accounting quality in companies listed in Kenya. The methodology is based on prior literature definition of metrics of accounting quality mainly earnings management, timely loss recognition and value relevance. The study differs from the previous ones by overcoming difficulties in controlling for confounding factors faced in previous studies which could have led to less reliable results. Three out of the eight metrics indicated that quality had marginally improved while five indicated that it had marginally declined. These mixed outcomes are very much in line with findings in other studies and the study contributes to the debate by explaining why accounting quality outcomes are still not consistent with IFRS promises in spite of improved test conditions. Key words: IFRS; IAS; accounting quality; earnings management; timely loss recognition;

scholarly journals DID IFRS REPORTING BY UK FIRMS REDUCE EARNINGS MANAGEMENT?

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 488-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Medhat Naguib El Guindy
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Management Incentives ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Benchmark Tests ◽  
Mandatory Adoption ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Big Four

This paper investigates the effect of reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards (hereafter IFRS) versus reporting under UK GAAP on earnings management in the UK. Prior studies find mixed evidence regarding the effect of voluntary and mandatory adoption of IFRS on earnings quality. I test whether the effect of reporting under IFRS on earnings management is sufficient to overcome earnings management incentives. Furthermore, I test whether the effect of IFRS reporting is conditional on audit quality surrogated by audit firm size. I build the analysis on measures of discretionary accruals and earnings benchmark tests. I find evidence that reporting under IFRS generally reduces levels of earnings management and furthermore, the mitigating effect of IFRS is stronger for income decreasing than for income increasing earnings management. In addition, I find that audit quality plays a key role in IFRS reporting, with only firms audited by big four auditors having a significant IFRS reporting effect.

Accounting Convergence, Mandatory Adoption of IFRS, and Accounting Quality

2021 ◽  
pp. 605-627
Author(s):  
Sinem Ates
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Legal Enforcement ◽  
Mandatory Adoption

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.

scholarly journals Is the accounting quality after the mandatory adoption of IFRS a random walk? Evidence from Europe

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Morais ◽  
Ana Fialho ◽  
Andreia Dionísio
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Accounting Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Mandatory Adoption ◽  
Specific Factors

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.

Does the Mandatory Adoption of IFRS Improve the Association between Accruals and Cash Flows? Evidence from Accounting Estimates

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-59
Author(s):  
Jimmy F. Downes ◽  
Tony Kang ◽  
Sohyung Kim ◽  
Cheol Lee
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Accounting Estimates ◽  
Accounting Accruals ◽  
Future Cash Flows

SYNOPSIS We investigate the effect of mandatory International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption in the European Union on the association between accounting estimates and future cash flows, a key concept of accounting quality within the International Accounting Standard Board conceptual framework. We find that the predictive value of accounting estimates improves after IFRS adoption. This improvement is largely driven by specific types of accounting estimates, such as accounts receivable, depreciation, and amortization expense. We also find that the improvement is concentrated in countries with larger differences between pre-IFRS domestic GAAP and IFRS. Our findings suggest that IFRS allow managers to exercise their judgment to provide information about future cash flows through the more subjective/judgmental portion of accounting accruals. JEL Classifications: M16; M49; O52. Data Availability: The data used in this study are from public sources identified in the study.

scholarly journals Heterogeneity in earnings quality between different classes of companies after IFRS adoption: evidence from Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (73) ◽  
pp. 113-131
Author(s):  
Roberto Black ◽  
Sílvio Hiroshi Nakao
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Accounting Earnings ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT This paper aims to investigate the existence of heterogeneity in earnings quality between different classes of companies after the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). IFRS adoption is generally associated with an increase in the quality of financial statements. However, companies within the same country are likely to have different economic incentives regarding the disclosure of information. Thus, treating companies equally, without considering the related economic incentives, could contaminate earnings quality investigations. The case of Brazil is analyzed, which is a country classified as code-law, in which tax laws determined accounting practice and in which IFRS adoption is mandatory. First, Brazilian companies listed on the São Paulo Stock, Commodities, and Futures Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA) were separated into two classes: companies issuing American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) before IFRS adoption and companies that did not issue ADRs until the adoption of IFRS. Then, this second class of companies was grouped, using cluster analysis, into two different subclasses according to economic incentives. Based on the groups identified, the quality of accounting earnings is tested for each class of the companies before and after IFRS adoption. This paper uses timely recognition of economic events, value relevance of net income, and earnings management as proxies for the quality of accounting earnings. The results indicate that a particular class of companies began showing conditional conservatism, value relevance of net income, and lower earnings management after IFRS adoption. On the other hand, these results were not found for the two other classes of companies.

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