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An Empirical Investigation of the True and Fair Override in the United Kingdom

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  • Gilad Livne
  • Maureen McNichols

Abstract

The True and Fair View concept requires companies to depart from GAAP or the law if necessary to present a true and fair view of the corporation's financial affairs. We analyze UK public companies invoking a true and fair override to assess whether overrides are associated with weakened performance, earnings quality and informativeness. We find quantified overrides increase income and equity significantly, and firms that invoke more costly overrides report weaker performance. We also find that firms invoking the most costly overrides have less informative financial statements than control firms, and lower earnings quality. In contrast, firms invoking less costly overrides do not exhibit weaker performance, less informative financial statements or weaker earnings quality. These findings are relevant for the debate on principle‐ vs. rules‐based accounting.

Suggested Citation

  • Gilad Livne & Maureen McNichols, 2009. "An Empirical Investigation of the True and Fair Override in the United Kingdom," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(1‐2), pages 1-30, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:36:y:2009:i:1-2:p:1-30
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5957.2008.02112.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Anne Marie Garvey & Laura Parte & Bridget McNally & José Antonio Gonzalo-Angulo, 2021. "True and Fair Override: Accounting Expert Opinions, Explanations from Behavioural Theories, and Discussions for Sustainability Accounting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, February.
    3. Dichev, Ilia D. & Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2013. "Earnings quality: Evidence from the field," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 1-33.
    4. Darren Henderson & Patricia C. O’Brien, 2017. "The standard-setters’ toolkit: can principles prevail over bright lines?," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 644-676, June.
    5. Okamoto, Noriaki, 2011. "Collective intentionality and aggressive earnings management: Developing Norman Macintosh's arguments in the debate over principles- versus rules-based accounting standards," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 236-242.
    6. Ngaire Kirk, 2006. "Perceptions of the true and fair view concept: an empirical investigation," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 42(2), pages 205-235, June.
    7. Ken Peasnell & Graeme Dean & Günther Gebhardt, 2009. "Reflections on the Revision of the IASB Framework by EAA Academics," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(4), pages 518-527, December.
    8. George J. Benston & Michael Bromwich & Alfred Wagenhofer, 2006. "Principles‐ versus rules‐based accounting standards: the FASB's standard setting strategy," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 42(2), pages 165-188, June.
    9. Günther Gebhardt & Araceli Mora & Alfred Wagenhofer, 2014. "Revisiting the Fundamental Concepts of IFRS," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 50(1), pages 107-116, March.
    10. Jannis Bischof & Holger Daske, 2016. "Interpreting the European Union’s IFRS Endorsement Criteria: The Case of IFRS 9," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 129-168, May.
    11. DeFond, Mark & Zhang, Jieying, 2014. "A review of archival auditing research," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 275-326.

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