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The effect of principles-based standards on financial statement comparability: The case of SFAS-142

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  • Chen, Anthony
  • Gong, James (Jianxin)
  • Lu, Richard (Hung-Yuan)

Abstract

This study examines the effects of a prominent principles-based standard (SFAS-142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets) on financial statement comparability. Using non-goodwill-intensive firms as our control group, we implement a difference-in-differences research design to examine how SFAS-142 affects comparability among goodwill-intensive firms (i.e. a treatment group), and comparability between goodwill-intensive firms and non-goodwill-intensive firms (i.e. another treatment group). We find that SFAS-142 decreases comparability among goodwill-intensive firms, as well as comparability between goodwill-intensive and non-goodwill-intensive firms. We also find that these reductions in comparability are less severe when the verifiability of net assets is higher. Overall, the results suggest that principles-based standards may reduce comparability, particularly when the accounting items entail high uncertainty and verifiability is low.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Anthony & Gong, James (Jianxin) & Lu, Richard (Hung-Yuan), 2020. "The effect of principles-based standards on financial statement comparability: The case of SFAS-142," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:advacc:v:49:y:2020:i:c:s0882611020300444
    DOI: 10.1016/j.adiac.2020.100474
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