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Changes in the value relevance of research and development expenses after IFRS adoption

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  • Gong, James Jianxin
  • Wang, Sophia I-Ling

Abstract

We investigate whether the nature of differences between national GAAP and IFRS is associated with differential changes in the value relevance of R&D expenses after the adoption of IFRS across countries. Using a difference-in-differences study on a sample of public companies in nine countries that covers pre-IFRS and post-IFRS periods during 1997–2012, we find that the value relevance of R&D expenses declines after IFRS adoption in countries that previously mandated immediate expensing or allowed optional capitalization of R&D costs. On the contrary, there is no change in the value relevance of R&D expenses for countries that switched from the mandatory capitalization rule to IFRS. We also investigate the moderating effects of national institutions on the changes in the value relevance of R&D expenses after IFRS adoption. We find that in countries with stronger investor protection, the changes in the value relevance of R&D expenses are larger. In addition, changes in the value relevance of R&D expenses are smaller for countries whose national culture is characterized by higher uncertainty avoidance. Our findings highlight the importance of both accounting standards and national institutions in explaining the changes in the value relevance of accounting information after IFRS adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Gong, James Jianxin & Wang, Sophia I-Ling, 2016. "Changes in the value relevance of research and development expenses after IFRS adoption," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 49-61.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:advacc:v:35:y:2016:i:c:p:49-61
    DOI: 10.1016/j.adiac.2016.05.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Asdemir, Ozer & Fernando, Guy D & Schneible, Richard A. & Tripathy, Arindam, 2017. "Impact of strategy on analyst information," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 103-110.
    3. Dinh, Tami & Schultze, Wolfgang, 2022. "Accounting for R&D on the income statement? Evidence on non-discretionary vs. discretionary R&D capitalization under IFRS in Germany," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    4. Georgiou, Andreas, 2022. "A Case Study of Investor R&D Evaluation using Game Theory," Proceedings of the ENTRENOVA - ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Conference (2022), Hybrid Conference, Opatija, Croatia, in: Proceedings of the ENTRENOVA - ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Conference, Hybrid Conference, Opatija, Croatia, 17-18 June 2022, pages 91-98, IRENET - Society for Advancing Innovation and Research in Economy, Zagreb.

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