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The Influence of U.S. GAAP on the Harmony of Accounting Measurement Policies of Large Companies in the U.K. and Australia

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  • Robert H. Parker
  • Richard D. Morris

Abstract

U.S. GAAP has increasingly become an influence on accounting practices in other countries, even aside from those traditionally considered under direct U.S. influence. The change arises from the large number of U.S. accounting standards, non‐U.S. companies listing on U.S. stock exchanges, and the amount of U.S. direct investment abroad. As the impact of U.S. GAAP varies across countries, it may affect international accounting harmony. This idea is tested by examining the level of international harmony for eleven accounting measurement policies in matched pairs of large companies from Australia and the U.K., two countries with historically strong cultural and economic links. It is argued that, in recent decades, accounting practice in Australia, more so than in the U.K., has become increasingly U.S.‐oriented. The concepts of harmony of Tay and Parker (1990) and Archer et al. (1996) are employed. International harmony is measured by the between‐country C index and chi‐square test; national harmony by van der Tas’s (1988) H index. While considerable national harmony is found in the U.K. for seven and in Australia for five accounting policies, there is considerable or complete international harmony for only three policies. Evidence is presented of the influence of U.S. GAAP as one factor explaining the poor degree of U.K./Australia international harmony. Australian companies appear to follow U.S. GAAP to a greater extent than do U.K. companies. The state of partial harmony thus existing restricts international comparability of accounting reports and may cause problems for regulators.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert H. Parker & Richard D. Morris, 2001. "The Influence of U.S. GAAP on the Harmony of Accounting Measurement Policies of Large Companies in the U.K. and Australia," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 37(3), pages 297-328, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:37:y:2001:i:3:p:297-328
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-6281.00089
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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Jahangir Ali, 2006. "Disclosure harmonization of accounting practices: the case for South Asia," Asian Review of Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 14(1), pages 168-186, July.
    2. Steven Globerman & W.R. Singleton, 2009. "Harmonisation of voluntary disclosure practices by Japanese companies," International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(4), pages 335-355.
    3. Jones, Stewart & Finley, Aimee, 2011. "Have IFRS made a difference to intra-country financial reporting diversity?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 22-38.
    4. Bao-Guang Chang & Tai-Hsin Huang & Chun-Yi Kuo, 2015. "A comparison of the technical efficiency of accounting firms among the US, China, and Taiwan under the framework of a stochastic metafrontier production function," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 337-349, December.
    5. Mustata Razvan V. & Matis Dumitru, 2009. "From The Harmonization Need To The Spontaneous Accounting Harmonization," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 3(1), pages 1067-1071, May.
    6. Michael Dobler & Nina Günther, 2008. "Stand der de facto-Konvergenz von IFRS und US-GAAP — Eine empirische Analyse der Überleitungsrechnungen nach Form 20-F von Unternehmen aus der Europäischen Union," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 60(8), pages 809-845, December.
    7. Marco Fasan & Carlo Marcon, 2014. "Accounting Tradition and other drivers of the Fair Value choice: An Opportunistic Management perspective," Working Papers 13, Venice School of Management - Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.
    8. Shirley Carlon & Richard Morris, 2003. "The economic determinants of depreciation accounting in late nineteenth-century Britain," Accounting History Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 275-303.
    9. Cairns, David & Massoudi, Dianne & Taplin, Ross & Tarca, Ann, 2011. "IFRS fair value measurement and accounting policy choice in the United Kingdom and Australia," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 1-21.
    10. Marco Fasan & Carlo Marcon, 2018. "Accounting Choice under IFRS: The Role of Accounting Tradition and Managerial Opportunism," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 8(3), pages 209-223, July.
    11. Jiří Strouhal & Marie Paseková & Libuše Müllerová, 2011. "Comparative Analysis of Czech Accounting with International Regulation from SMEs Perspective," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2011(1), pages 39-59.
    12. Bamber, Matthew & McMeeking, Kevin, 2016. "An examination of international accounting standard-setting due process and the implications for legitimacy," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 59-73.
    13. Siriluck Sutthachai & Terence E. Cooke, 2009. "An Analysis of Thai Financial Reporting Practices and the Impact of the 1997 Economic Crisis," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(4), pages 493-517, December.

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