With the awareness of the socioeconomic importance of small- and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and the growing demand for a high‐quality accounting framework for these businesses, the International Accounting Standards Board issued on July 9, 2009 a simplified version of financial reporting standards (IFRS for SMEs) to meet the specific needs of such entities. Recently, there is an increasing widespread acceptance of this standard around the world. While considerable effort has been made to explain the worldwide diffusion of full IFRS, still little empirical evidence on the factors influencing the IFRS for SMEs adoption has been undertaken. This study seeks to examine the institutional factors associated with the adoption of the IFRS for SMEs specifically in the context of developing and transitional economies. Based on a sample of 70 countries, the research results show that SMEs' importance, country's reliance on external funding, and external openness degree positively affect the IFRS for SMEs adoption. They reveal a negative effect of tax system and governance quality on this decision. However, education level and prior adoption of full IFRS are nonsignificant factors. These results are relevant to practitioners, SMEs' potential investors, standard setters, regulators, CPA firms, SMEs' managers, and policy‐makers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of central government financial information disclosed in accordance with accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and to investigate the environmental factors affecting this level, drawing on the contingency theory framework. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a self-constructed checklist of 116 items to measure the IPSAS disclosure level by 100 public sector entities from different countries across the globe during the period 2015–2017. Panel regressions have been used. Findings The results show significant differences in compliance levels with IPSAS disclosures across nations. They reveal a positive influence of the degree of government openness (political culture), quality of public administration and management and prior experience with International Accounting Standards (IAS)/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the public sector on this level, whereas government financial condition is a nonsignificant factor. Practical implications The research findings are potentially relevant to academics, researchers, practitioners, standard-setters and government policymakers. By examining the influencing factors of IPSAS disclosure level, this paper paves the way for further investigation of this topic with a more extensive set of micro and macroeconomic variables whether at the central or local government level in other jurisdictions Originality/value This study provides new insights into the assessment of the transparency and completeness of government accrual-based financial statements. Based on the contingency theory, this paper is the first to empirically investigate the factors affecting the level of disclosure under accrual-based IPSAS by central government entities in a cross-country analysis.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the transparency and completeness of government financial reporting in sub-Saharan African countries by assessing the extent of compliance with IPSAS disclosures and to investigate the impact of the strength of public management systems (SPMS) and accounting education on this level. Design/methodology/approach This research develops a self-constructed disclosure index from content analysis and applies panel regressions for a sample of 60 sub-Saharan African government entities during the period 2014–2017. Findings The study results indicate that IPSAS disclosure levels significantly vary across sub-Saharan African governments. They reveal a positive effect of the SPMS and accounting education on the extent of compliance with IPSAS in this region. Practical implications The study findings are of interest to practitioners, researchers, government policy makers, supervisory authorities and professional bodies. By focusing on the effect of the SPMS and accounting education on IPSAS disclosure level, this paper leaves room for future research to investigate other relevant factors associated with the compliance with these standards whether in sub-Saharan Africa or in other parts of the world. Originality/value This paper gives new insights into the assessment of the quality and transparency of government financial reporting in sub-Saharan Africa by examining the extent of compliance with IPSAS in this region. It is the first to investigate the impact of the SPMS and accounting education on this level.
Government financial reporting reform; International harmonization of public sector accounting; Movement from cash to accrual accounting; New Public Financial Management; Public sector accounting change; Reform of financial information systems Definition Government accounting is the process of recording, reporting, and evaluating transitions and events affecting government's finances. It's a social and institutional practice which deals with fraud and waste in order to protect public treasury, facilitate good financial management, and discharge public accountability.
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