Comparability Effects of Mandatory IFRS Adoption

The mandatory adoption of IFRS by many countries worldwide fuels the expectation that financial accounting information might become more comparable across countries. This expectation is opposed to an alternative view that stresses the importance of incentives in shaping accounting information. We provide early evidence on this debate by investigating the effects of mandatory IFRS adoption on the comparability of financial accounting information around the world. Using two comparability proxies based on De Franco et al. [2011], our results suggest that the overall comparability effect of mandatory IFRS adoption is marginal at best. To investigate the reasons for this finding, we first hand-collect data on IFRS compliance for a sample of German and Italian firms and find that firm-, region-, and country-level incentives systematically shape accounting compliance. We then use the identified compliance incentives to explain the variance in the comparability effect of mandatory IFRS adoption and find it to vary systematically with firm-level incentives, suggesting that only firms with high compliance incentives experience substantial increases in comparability.international accounting, IFRS, comparability, accounting harmonization, financial accounting compliance, reporting incentives

Heterogeneity Index of Trade and Actual Heterogeneity Index – the case of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides

Non-tariff measures (NTMs) beyond traditional trade policy instruments define the requirements that importing countries imposed on foreign products. Due to differences across countries, requirements for supplying foreign markets can lead to trade costs and thus hamper international trade. In this paper, we introduce two regulatory heterogeneity indexes which are subsequently applied to the case maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides. The Heterogeneity Index of Trade (HIT) reflects the respective differences across countries based on the assumption that the mere fact of difference in requirements causes trade costs. Taking the HIT index as a starting point, the Actual Heterogeneity Index (AHI) specially considers the situation where the requirements demanded by the importing country are stricter than those of the exporting country. The focuses is on the pesticide MRLs that the EU27 and 10 trade partner countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and the US) apply on a set of agri-food products (cheese, beef, pig meat, potatoes, tomatoes, apples and pears, aubergines, peppers, maize, barley and rape seed). In particular, we take the EU export perspective as the benchmark for the comparison and calculate the indexes. The indexes identify if the respective MRLs are similar or dissimilar, equal, stricter or more lenient, and the results of our analysis thus point out potential areas for negotiating equivalence or other strategies in order to overcome the possible trade-restricting impact of diverging MRLs.Non-tariff measures (NTMs), maximum residue levels (MRLs), regulatory heterogeneity index, agri-food trade, index analysis, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Automated Measurement of Adherence to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Guidelines using Neurological ICU Data

Using a combination of physiological and treatment information from neurological ICU data-sets, adherence to traumatic brain injury (TBI) guidelines on hypotension, intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is calculated automatically. The ICU output is evaluated to capture pressure events and actions taken by clinical staff for patient management, and are then re-expressed as simplified process models. The official TBI guidelines from the Brain Trauma Foundation are similarly evaluated, so the two structures can be compared and a quantifiable distance between the two calculated (the measure of adherence). The methods used include: the compilation of physiological and treatment information into event logs and subsequently process models; the expression of the BTF guidelines in process models within the real-time context of the ICU; a calculation of distance between the two processes using two algorithms (“Direct” and “Weighted”) building on work conducted in th e business process domain. Results are presented across two categories each with clinical utility (minute-by-minute and single patient stays) using a real ICU data-set. Results of two sample patients using a weighted algorithm show a non-adherence level of 6.25% for 42 mins and 56.25% for 708 mins and non-adherence of 18.75% for 17 minutes and 56.25% for 483 minutes. Expressed as two combinatorial metrics (duration/non-adherence (A) and duration * non-adherence (B)), which together indicate the clinical importance of the non-adherence, one has a mean of A=4.63 and B=10014.16 and the other a mean of A=0.43 and B=500.0

Global Competition, Institutions, And The Diffusion Of Organizational Practices: The International Spread Of Iso 9000 Quality Certificates

We use panel data on ISO 9000 quality certification in 85 countries between 1993 and 1998 to better understand, the cross-national diffusion of an organizational practice. Following neoinstitutional theory, we focus on the coercive, normative, and mimetic effects that result from the exposure of firms in a given country to a powerful source of critical resources, a common pool of relevant technical knowledge, and the experiences of firms located in other countries. We use social network theory to develop a systematic conceptual understanding of how firms located in different countries influence each other's rates of adoption as a result of cohesive and equivalent network relationships. Regression results provide support for our predictions that states and foreign multinationals are the key actors responsible for coercive isomorphism, cohesive trade relationships between countries generate coercive and normative effects, and role-equivalent trade relationships result in learning-based and competitive imitation.Business Administratio

NEXT LEVEL: A COURSE RECOMMENDER SYSTEM BASED ON CAREER INTERESTS

Skills-based hiring is a talent management approach that empowers employers to align recruitment around business results, rather than around credentials and title. It starts with employers identifying the particular skills required for a role, and then screening and evaluating candidates’ competencies against those requirements. With the recent rise in employers adopting skills-based hiring practices, it has become integral for students to take courses that improve their marketability and support their long-term career success. A 2017 survey of over 32,000 students at 43 randomly selected institutions found that only 34% of students believe they will graduate with the skills and knowledge required to be successful in the job market. Furthermore, the study found that while 96% of chief academic officers believe that their institutions are very or somewhat effective at preparing students for the workforce, only 11% of business leaders strongly agree [11]. An implication of the misalignment is that college graduates lack the skills that companies need and value. Fortunately, the rise of skills-based hiring provides an opportunity for universities and students to establish and follow clearer classroom-to-career pathways. To this end, this paper presents a course recommender system that aims to improve students’ career readiness by suggesting relevant skills and courses based on their unique career interests