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A positive theory of flexibility in accounting standards

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  • Dye, Ronald A.
  • Sridhar, Sri S.

Abstract

We develop a positive theory of accounting standards when standards generate network externalities and differ in the amount of reporting discretion, or flexibility, they provide firms. We evaluate expected value-maximizing firms' preferences between two standards regimes, rigid and flexible, as the number of firms subject to each standard varies, as the organization of the securities market varies, and as the mapping from the underlying economics of the firms' transactions to the accounting reports produced under the two standards vary. We also compare firms' preferences between the two regimes to the preferences of profit-maximizing traders in the firms' securities.

Suggested Citation

  • Dye, Ronald A. & Sridhar, Sri S., 2008. "A positive theory of flexibility in accounting standards," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(2-3), pages 312-333, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:46:y:2008:i:2-3:p:312-333
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    2. Qi Chen & Tracy R. Lewis & Katherine Schipper & Yun Zhang, 2017. "Uniform Versus Discretionary Regimes in Reporting Information with Unverifiable Precision and a Coordination Role," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 153-196, March.
    3. Anil Arya & Brian Mittendorf & Ram N. V. Ramanan, 2022. "Tax-Favored Stock Donations by Corporate Insiders and Consequences for Equity Markets," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(11), pages 8506-8514, November.
    4. Gao, Pingyang & Jiang, Xu, 2020. "The economic consequences of discrete recognition and continuous measurement," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1).
    5. Minlei Ye & Dan A. Simunic, 2013. "The Economics of Setting Auditing Standards," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1191-1215, September.
    6. Vivian W. Fang & Michael Iselin & Gaoqing Zhang, 2022. "Consistency as a Means to Comparability: Theory and Evidence," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(6), pages 4279-4300, June.
    7. Mitchell Oler, 2015. "Determinants of the length of time a firm’s book-to-market ratio is greater than one," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 509-539, October.
    8. Kabir, Humayun & Su, Li & Rahman, Asheq, 2020. "Firm life cycle and the disclosure of estimates and judgments in goodwill impairment tests: Evidence from Australia," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    9. Mirko S. Heinle & Robert E. Verrecchia, 2016. "Bias and the Commitment to Disclosure," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 62(10), pages 2859-2870, October.
    10. Nanhee Hong & Junyong Shim, 2019. "The Effect of the Adoption of International Accounting Standards No. 12 (IAS No. 12) for Firms Reporting Losses: Evidence from Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-24, October.
    11. Beyer, Anne & Cohen, Daniel A. & Lys, Thomas Z. & Walther, Beverly R., 2010. "The financial reporting environment: Review of the recent literature," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 296-343, December.
    12. Huang, Yong & Yan, Chao, 2020. "Global accounting standards, financial statement comparability, and the cost of capital," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 301-318.
    13. Jiajun Jiang & Qi Liu & Bo Sun, 2020. "Investor Sentiment and the (Discretionary) Accrual-return Relation," International Finance Discussion Papers 1300, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    14. Bertomeu, Jeremy & Magee, Robert P., 2011. "From low-quality reporting to financial crises: Politics of disclosure regulation along the economic cycle," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 209-227.
    15. Liu, Qi & Sun, Bo, 2018. "Managerial manipulation, corporate governance, and limited market participation," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 98-117.

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