IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/abacus/v56y2020i1p104-139.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

China's Convergence with IFRS: Analysis of Dual‐listed Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Weiguo Zhang
  • Jianfang Ye

Abstract

This study investigates China's convergence towards International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) differences data disclosed in AH‐share companies’ annual reports from 2006 to 2017. We firstly find that 92% of AH‐share companies disclosed GAAP differences in 2006, immediately prior to implementation of converged Chinese accounting standards (CAS). This ratio decreased to 88% in 2007, 58% in 2010, and 38% in 2011, respectively. After 2011, less than one third of AH companies disclosed GAAP differences. Secondly, an increasing number of AH companies (35%) have published CAS‐based financial statements in Hong Kong from 2014. Thirdly, except for the first few years after 2007, the disclosed GAAP differences have dropped to a very low level; since 2010 the net profit and net assets GAAP differences ratios have been below 0.5%. Fourthly, reduction of the disclosed GAAP differences appears to be the result of efforts by Chinese standard setters and regulators, work related to the International Accounting Standards Board, or changes in China's special socio‐economic environment. Distinct from word‐by‐word comparison between CAS and IFRS, this research shows that China has achieved its original goal, namely an enterprise applying CAS should produce financial statements that are the same as those of an enterprise that applies IFRS. Our findings provide insights regarding China's institutional evolution in terms of the country's IFRS convergence effort, which are useful for further empirical study.

Suggested Citation

  • Weiguo Zhang & Jianfang Ye, 2020. "China's Convergence with IFRS: Analysis of Dual‐listed Companies," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 56(1), pages 104-139, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:56:y:2020:i:1:p:104-139
    DOI: 10.1111/abac.12183
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/abac.12183
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/abac.12183?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhou, Zhong Hui, 1988. "Chinese accounting systems and practices," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 207-224, March.
    2. Peng, Songlan & van der Laan Smith, Joyce, 2010. "Chinese GAAP and IFRS: An analysis of the convergence process," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 16-34.
    3. Qu, Xiaohui & Zhang, Guohua, 2015. "Value-relevance of Earnings and Book Value Over the Institutional Transition in China: The Suitability of Fair Value Accounting in This Emerging Market," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 195-223.
    4. World Bank, 2009. "Bhutan - Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes : Accounting and Auditing," World Bank Publications - Reports 3095, The World Bank Group.
    5. Xianjie He & T.J. Wong & Danqing Young, 2012. "Challenges for Implementation of Fair Value Accounting in Emerging Markets: Evidence from China," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(2), pages 538-562, June.
    6. Jean Jinghan Chen & Haitao Zhang, 2010. "The Impact of Regulatory Enforcement and Audit upon IFRS Compliance - Evidence from China," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(4), pages 665-692.
    7. Feng Chen & Songlan Peng & Shuang Xue & Zhifeng Yang & Feiteng Ye, 2016. "Do Audit Clients Successfully Engage in Opinion Shopping? Partner‐Level Evidence," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 79-112, March.
    8. World Bank, 2009. "Afghanistan : Report on Observance of Standards and Codes - Accounting and Auditing," World Bank Publications - Reports 3200, The World Bank Group.
    9. Qu, Xiaohui & Zhang, Guohua, 2010. "Measuring the convergence of national accounting standards with international financial reporting standards: The application of fuzzy clustering analysis," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 334-355, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Yang & Ashton, John K. & Jaafar, Aziz, 2023. "Financial statement fraud, recidivism and punishment," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Huacheng Wang & Kangtao Ye & Kai Zhong, 2018. "Accounting research in China: commemorating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up," Frontiers of Business Research in China, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-37, December.
    2. Helen Hong Yang & Colin Clark & Changyu Wu & Alan Farley, 2018. "Insights from Accounting Practitioners on China's Convergence with IFRS," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(1), pages 14-27, March.
    3. Zhang, Eagle & Andrew, Jane, 2016. "Rethinking China: Discourse, convergence and fair value accounting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 1-21.
    4. Habib, Ahsan & Jiang, Haiyan, 2015. "Corporate governance and financial reporting quality in China: A survey of recent evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 29-45.
    5. Daniela PORDEA & Alin-Constantin DUMITRESCU, 2021. "Convergence to IFRS in Romania – Score per Minute," The Audit Financiar journal, Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania, vol. 19(162), pages 373-373, May.
    6. De George, Emmanuel T. & Li, Xi & Shivakumar, Lakshmanan, 2016. "A review of the IFRS adoption literature," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 67599, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Benguria, Felipe & Choi, Jaerim & Swenson, Deborah L. & Xu, Mingzhi (Jimmy), 2022. "Anxiety or pain? The impact of tariffs and uncertainty on Chinese firms in the trade war," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    8. Yangyang Chen & Jun Huang & Ting Li & Jeffrey Pittman, 2022. "It's a Small World: The Importance of Social Connections with Auditors to Mutual Fund Managers’ Portfolio Decisions," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 901-963, June.
    9. Emmanuel T. De George & Xi Li & Lakshmanan Shivakumar, 2016. "A review of the IFRS adoption literature," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 898-1004, September.
    10. Nadia ALBU & Ioana PALARIE, 2016. "Convergence of Romanian accounting regulations with IFRS. A longitudinal analysis," The Audit Financiar journal, Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania, vol. 14(138), pages 634-634, June.
    11. Azimi, Mohammad Naim, 2015. "Impact of Organization Internal Factors on Ethical Intensity of Accountants in Afghanistan," MPRA Paper 69532, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 Aug 2015.
    12. Anh Tuan Nguyen & Guangming Gong, 2014. "Measurement of Formal Convergence of Vietnamese Accounting Standards with IFRS," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 24(2), pages 182-197, June.
    13. Mei Luo & Shuai Shao & Frank Zhang, 2018. "Does financial reporting above or below operating income matter to firms and investors? The case of investment income in China," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1754-1790, December.
    14. Modell, Sven & Yang, ChunLei, 2018. "Financialisation as a strategic action field: An historically informed field study of governance reforms in Chinese state-owned enterprises," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 41-59.
    15. Kristina Spantig, 2015. "The role of the financial sector in enhancing economic growth in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 22(1), pages 67-98, June.
    16. Zvi Singer & Jing Zhang, 2022. "Do companies try to conceal financial misstatements through auditor shopping?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1-2), pages 140-180, January.
    17. Silvia Rossetti & Roberto Verona, 2017. "International Differences in IFRS Policy Choice and the Persistence of Accounting Classification: The Case of China," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
    18. Liu, Shuyan & Jia, Ruo & Zhao, Yulong & Sun, Qixiang, 2019. "Global consistent or market-oriented? A quantitative assessment of RBC standards, solvency II, and C-ROSS," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    19. Lennox, Clive & Wang, Zi-Tian & Wu, Xi, 2018. "Earnings management, audit adjustments, and the financing of corporate acquisitions: Evidence from China," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 21-40.
    20. Melinda Timea FULOP & Nicolae MAGDAS & George Silviu CORDOS, 2019. "Theoretical Background Of Internal And External Environment Of Negotiation," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 1(21), pages 1-3.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:56:y:2020:i:1:p:104-139. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0001-3072 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.