IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/bracre/v44y2012i1p1-10.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The content of accounting standards: Principles versus rules

Author

Listed:
  • Bradbury, Michael E.
  • Schröder, Laura B.

Abstract

The Global Accounting Alliance has raised a call for different perspectives on principles-based accounting standards. Based on prior studies this paper identifies a number of characteristics of principles-based accounting standards. It uses content analysis to empirically test whether the asserted characteristics are consistent with the IASB and FASB standards on interest costs. We find that rules-based standards, relative to principles-based standards, have more rules, more justification, acknowledge less judgement is required, have more bright-line thresholds, have more scope exceptions, and are more verbose and complex. The main drafting difference between a rules-based or principles-based approach is whether extensional definitions or intensional definitions are used. Several policy implications are noted.

Suggested Citation

  • Bradbury, Michael E. & Schröder, Laura B., 2012. "The content of accounting standards: Principles versus rules," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 1-10.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bracre:v:44:y:2012:i:1:p:1-10
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2011.12.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890838911000904
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.bar.2011.12.003?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hronsky, Jane J. F. & Houghton, Keith A., 2001. "The meaning of a defined accounting concept: regulatory changes and the effect on auditor decision making," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 123-139, March.
    2. David Alexander, 1999. "A benchmark for the adequacy of published financial statements," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 239-253.
    3. Bruce Bennett & Michael Bradbury & Helen Prangnell, 2006. "Rules, principles and judgments in accounting standards," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 42(2), pages 189-204, June.
    4. Aerts, Walter, 1994. "On the use of accounting logic as an explanatory category in narrative accounting disclosures," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 19(4-5), pages 337-353.
    5. Young, Joni J., 2003. "Constructing, persuading and silencing: the rhetoric of accounting standards," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 621-638, August.
    6. 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.
    7. David Alexander & Eva Jermakowicz, 2006. "A true and fair view of the principles/rules debate," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 42(2), pages 132-164, June.
    8. Dennis, Ian, 2008. "A conceptual enquiry into the concept of a ‘principles-based’ accounting standard," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 260-271.
    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. Kim, Jong-Hoon & Fujiyama, Keishi & Koga, Yuya, 2024. "The effect of voluntary international financial reporting standards adoption on information asymmetry in the stock market: Evidence from Japan," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    2. Dirk Beerbaum & Maciej Piechocki & Christoph Weber, 2017. "Is there a Conflict between Principles-based Standard Setting and Structured Electronic Reporting with XBRL?," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2017(3), pages 33-52.
    3. Pinto, Inês & Morais, Ana Isabel & Quick, Reiner, 2020. "The impact of the precision of accounting standards on the expanded auditor’s report in the European Union," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    4. Christian Rainero & Giuseppe Modarelli & Alessandro Migliavacca & Riccardo Coda, 2021. "Early Traces of Materiality and Relevance Principles in Luca Pacioli’s Tractatus XI," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(9), pages 153-153, July.
    5. Paola Ramassa & Alberto Quagli, 2024. "Interpreting IFRS: The Evolving Role of Agenda Decisions," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 60(2), pages 205-235, June.
    6. Jie Hao & Viet T. Pham, 2022. "COVID‐19 Disclosures and Market Uncertainty: Evidence from 10‐Q Filings," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 32(2), pages 238-266, June.
    7. June Cao & Chris Patel, 2020. "The role of the national institutional environment in IFRS convergence: a new approach," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(4), pages 3367-3406, December.
    8. Metrick, Andrew, 2019. "The Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy C: Managing the Balance Sheet Through the Use of Repo 105," Journal of Financial Crises, Yale Program on Financial Stability (YPFS), vol. 1(1), pages 80-99, March.
    9. Rowbottom, N. & Locke, J. & Troshani, I., 2021. "When the tail wags the dog? Digitalisation and corporate reporting," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 92(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. Hodges, Ron & Mellett, Howard, 2012. "The U.K. private finance initiative: An accounting retrospective," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 235-247.
    2. Jens Wüstemann & Sonja Wüstemann, 2010. "Why Consistency of Accounting Standards Matters: A Contribution to the Rules‐Versus‐Principles Debate in Financial Reporting," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 46(1), pages 1-27, March.
    3. Dennis, Ian, 2008. "A conceptual enquiry into the concept of a ‘principles-based’ accounting standard," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 260-271.
    4. 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.
    5. Kohler, Hervé & Pochet, Christine & Le Manh, Anne, 2021. "Auditors as intermediaries in the endogenization of an accounting standard: The case of IFRS 15 within the telecom industry," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Mark Penno, 2022. "Concepts‐based Accounting Standards," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 58(2), pages 209-232, June.
    7. Renata Stenka & Peter Taylor, 2010. "Setting UK standards on the concept of control: An analysis of lobbying behaviour," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 109-130.
    8. Anna-Maija Lantto, 2014. "Business Involvement in Accounting: A Case Study of International Financial Reporting Standards Adoption and the Work of Accountants," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 335-356, June.
    9. Guilherme Belloque & Martina K Linnenluecke & Mauricio Marrone & Abhay K Singh & Rui Xue, 2021. "55 years of Abacus: Evolution of Research Streams and Future Research Directions," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 57(3), pages 593-618, September.
    10. Tanja Lakovic & Jayne Fuglister, 2013. "The International Accounting Standards Board’s Progress in Promoting Judgement Through Objectives-Oriented Accounting Standards," International Journal of Business and Social Research, MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, vol. 3(7), pages 28-42, July.
    11. Okamoto, Noriaki, 2017. "Norm entrepreneur lobbying and persuasion: A case study involving the IASB's modification of an exposure draft," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 129-138.
    12. Marton, Jan & Runesson, Emmeli, 2017. "The predictive ability of loan loss provisions in banks – Effects of accounting standards, enforcement and incentives," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 162-180.
    13. 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.
    14. Mohammed Hossain & Md. Tarikul Islam & Mahmood Ahmed Momin & Shamsun Nahar & Md. Samsul Alam, 2019. "Understanding Communication of Sustainability Reporting: Application of Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT)," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 563-586, December.
    15. Jane Davison, 2008. "Rhetoric, repetition, reporting and the “dot.com” era: words, pictures, intangibles," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(6), pages 791-826, August.
    16. Himick, Darlene & Brivot, Marion, 2018. "Carriers of ideas in accounting standard-setting and financialization: The role of epistemic communities," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 29-44.
    17. R. G. Walker, 2007. "Reporting entity concept: a case study of the failure of principles‐based regulation," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 43(1), pages 49-75, March.
    18. Martin Schmidt, 2018. "A Note on the Proprietary and Entity Perspectives in Financial Statements: The Implications for two Current Controversial Issues," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 134-147, January.
    19. Churyk, Natalie Tatiana & Stenka, Renata, 2014. "Accounting for complex investment transactions," Journal of Accounting Education, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 58-70.
    20. Linsley, Philip M. & Shrives, Philip J., 2006. "Risk reporting: A study of risk disclosures in the annual reports of UK companies," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 387-404.

    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:eee:bracre:v:44:y:2012:i:1:p:1-10. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-british-accounting-review .

    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.