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International harmony measures of accounting policy: comparative statistical properties

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  • Richard Morris
  • R. Parker

Abstract

Van der Tas's (1988) I index and the between-country C index introduced by Archer et al. (1995) are competing measures of international harmony. We present comparative statistical properties of these indices, via a simulation study covering three accounting methods in 10 countries, with uniform, bimodal and unimodal distributions of companies across accounting methods. The indices are also adjusted for non-disclosures using techniques developed by Archer and McLeay (1995) and Archer et al. (1995). The I index and the between-country C index are mathematically equivalent in the two-country case even in the presence of non-disclosures. As more countries are compared, the two indices diverge. The means and standard deviations of the I index, with a correction proposed by Archer and McLeay (1995), decrease and there is little skewness or kurtosis. In contrast, as more countries are compared, the between-country C index exhibits more stability in means, lower standard deviations, higher skewness and kurtosis. The between-country C index may be superior to the corrected I index because (i) between-country C index means approximate their ‘expected values’ (where all observations equal expected values) more closely than do corrected I index means: and (ii) between-country C index means are more stable than corrected I index means where the data come from stable distributions.

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  • Richard Morris & R. Parker, 1998. "International harmony measures of accounting policy: comparative statistical properties," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 73-86.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:29:y:1998:i:1:p:73-86
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.1998.9729567
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emenyonu, Emmanuel N. & Gray, Sidney J., 1996. "International accounting harmonization and the major developed stock market countries: An empirical study," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 269-279.
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    2. Jones, Stewart & Finley, Aimee, 2011. "Have IFRS made a difference to intra-country financial reporting diversity?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 22-38.
    3. Cristina Silvia Nistor & Cristina Alexandrina Stefanescu, 2012. "Public vs. Banking Sector Accounting - How Far Is Romania from International Referential?," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 3(3), pages 86-100, June.
    4. Garrido, Pascual & Leon, Angel & Zorio, Ana, 2002. "Measurement of formal harmonization progress:: The IASC experience," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 1-26.
    5. Stefanescu Cristina Alexandrina, 2012. "Accounting Practices From Financial Instruments Disclosure Perspective '" The Case Of Romanian Banking System," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(2), pages 595-601, December.
    6. Sally Aisbitt, 2001. "Measurement of harmony of financial reporting within and between countries: the case of the Nordic countries," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 51-72.
    7. Ross H. Taplin, 2017. "Measuring the Comparability of Company Accounts Conditionally: A Research Note," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 53(4), pages 527-542, December.

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