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Explore the relevance of financial reporting research to practical applications, new approaches by IASB, practitioner concerns, future implications, and corporate reporting effects. Engage with the IASB, understand obstacles, and academic events for better market information.
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Financial reporting research – is it relevant to practice? Brian Singleton-Green Financial Reporting Workshop, Rome: 13-14 June 2013
Is FR research relevant to practice? Obvious answers Obstacles The IASB’s new approach Four styles of standard setting The IASB, research and the future
Practitioner concerns What should I do? (practice) What should we be required to do? (policy)
Corporate reporting questions • Who uses corporate reporting? • What use do they make of it? • What other information do they use? • What are the effects of corporate reporting (effects ≠ uses)? • Eg, effects of different disclosures? • Effects of different forms of measurement? Answers will depend on context
Is it relevant to practice? Obvious answers No Yes Depends
Obstacles • Incomprehensible • Disagreements • Normative conclusions • Perceived irrelevance
AAA membership: what happened? • Research changed • Practice changed
The IASB’s new approach Feedback Statement: Agenda Consultation 2011 (December 2012)
… the IASB should establish, or facilitate the establishment of, a dedicated research capability to provide leadership in the thinking about financial reporting
“Priority research projects” • Emissions Trading Schemes • Business Combinations under Common Control • Discount Rates • Equity Method of Accounting • Intangible Assets; Extractive Activities; and Research & Development Activities • Financial Instruments with the Characteristics of Equity • Foreign Currency Translation • Non-financial Liabilities (amendments to IAS 37) • Financial Reporting in High Inflationary Economies
Four styles of standard setting Codifying best practice Finding out what current practices are - Implementing a theory Doing what works Finding out what works - Doing what people want
IASB: motivations for change • The financial crisis • Unsuccessful projects • The end of convergence Credibility
What the IASB means by “research” • Academic research • Staff research • Work
The IASB and research: the future • More use of academic research • Will have to be positive results • Research is not a panacea • Change is reversible
The long term • Engage with the IASB • Engage with practitioners • Create forums for interaction
Information for Better Markets • Academic events • ICAEW lectures and conferences
ICAEW lectures and conferences • “International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): pros and cons”, Ray Ball, Accounting and Business Research (2006) • Over 18,000 downloads from SSRN
Information for Better Markets Conferences • London, 16-17 December 2013 • Reporting Financial Performance • Alfred Wagenhofer (Graz) • Charles Lee (Stanford) • Robert Libby (Cornell) • Steven Young (Lancaster)
Information for Better Markets • Academic events • ICAEW lectures and conferences • Reports
The long term • Engage with the IASB • Engage with practitioners • Create forums for interaction • Communication: clear, short and simple • Explain policy-relevance Impact