IFRS accounting systems classification: A new emerging cluster

: This study aims to identify the position of emerging countries in the IFRS accounting systems’ classification proposed by Nobes (2011). In spite of the international accounting harmonization efforts around the convergence to IFRS, there is empirical evidence of significant differences in the way IFRS has been applied worldwide. The traditional split between Anglo and Continental European countries are still observed even in an IFRS environment (Nobes, 2011). Considering the weight of emerging countries in the global economy, this research analyzes the accounting practices in the three BRICS countries that have adopted IFRS (Brazil, Russia and South Africa) in order to identify how they stand in the classification of accounting systems proposed by Nobes (2011). Our findings provide empirical evidence that there is a new cluster composed by the emerging countries, which is closer to the Continental European group than to the Anglo group. Curiously, the Netherlands, considered as an unclassifiable country, became closer to South Africa and then fused with the Emerging country cluster. The other countries are still in the same position shown by Nobes (2011), in the Anglo or in the Continental European group.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio

IFRS accounting quality in Latin America: A comparison with anglo-saxon and continental European countries and the role of cross-listing in the U.S.

This study analyses the level of IFRS accounting quality in Latin America, when compared to Anglo-Saxon and Continental European countries. It also analyses the role of crosslisting in the US when comparing the level of accounting quality of Latin American firms with foreign firms. Prior literature has focused on developed countries. There is a lack of knowledge about less developed countries, especially in Latin America, despite their relevant role on the global economy. This paper fills this gap in the literature by analysing the level of IFRS accounting quality in the main Latin American Countries applying IFRS (Brazil and Chile), when compared to the main Anglo-Saxon countries with IFRS tradition (United Kingdom and Australia), but also when compared with the main European Continental economies (France and Germany). The results show that Latin American firms present a lower level of accounting quality, even when only those firms cross-listed in the U.S., regarded as global players, are compared. Thus, even with a unique set of high quality accounting standards (IFRS) and strong reporting incentives, countries’ specific characteristics still play an important role in the way as IFRS are applied.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio

International financial reporting standards and earnings management in Latin America

This study analyzes the level of earnings management in Latin America after the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and analyzes the role of cross-listing in the United States. The literature on earnings management in less developed countries is still under construction, and few studies focus on this issue, especially with respect to Latin America, despite its relevant role in the global economy. This paper fills this gap in the literature as it analyzes the level of IFRS earnings management regarding the first and main Latin American countries applying IFRS (Brazil and Chile), when compared to the main Anglo-Saxon countries with IFRS tradition (United Kingdom and Australia), and with the main Continental European economies (France and Germany). The results show that Latin American firms present a higher level of earnings management than Continental European and Anglo-Saxon firms, and this opportunistic behavior remains significant when only global players with cross-listing in the United States are analyzed. Thus, even with a unique set of high quality accounting standards (IFRS) and strong reporting incentives, countries' specific characteristics still play an important role in the way IFRS is implemented in each country.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determinant Factors of Dividend Payments in Brazil

This study identifies factors that shaped cash disbursement distribution policies employed by Brazilian public companies listed on the Brazilian Securities, Commodities and Futures Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA) from 1995 to 2011. Relationships between Dividends/Total Assets and potential determinants discussed in the literature, including firm size, corporate governance, profitability, leverage, market to book, liquidity, investment, risk, profit growth, information asymmetry and agency conflict, are examined. The following econometric methods are employed: (1) Tobit, given the nature of the dividend data, and (2) the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to control for endogenous regressors. Significant positive variables found include size, return on assets (ROA), market to book, liquidity and profit growth. It can thus be inferred that larger firm size, profitability, market value, liquidity and profit growth correlate with greater firm pro pensity to distribute money to shareholders, thus supporting the theory of corporate finance. Significant negative variables found include leverage, liquidity squared, capex, beta and tag along 100%. It is thus inferred that more significantly leveraged companies that invest more heavily in fixed assets and that exhibit high liquidity, higher risk and less conflict between controlling and minority shareholders will be less likely to pay dividends to shareholders.</p

An analysis of the deinstitutionalization of inflation-adjusted accounting practices in Brazilian companies

This article aims to analyze the deinstitutionalization of the inflation-adjustment accounting practices used by large Brazilian companies. The theoretical assumptions used were based on institutional theory, which provides a sociological interpretation of human behavior that recognizes the phenomenon of limited rationality and the political character of social action. Analyses were based on the empirical approach that was proposed by Oliver (1992). The research strategy consisted of questionnaires and interviews conducted in a population of 118 large Brazilian companies from Exame Magazine's list of the 500 largest companies. The primary respondents were accountants and controllers. Factor analysis, one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were conducted using the approach proposed by Oliver (1992), and the research included 22 variables comprising 12 constructs and 6 qualitative hypotheses regarding the pressures that motivate the deinstitutionalization of inflation-adjusted accounting practices. Therefore, with regard to the constructs assessed, emphasis was placed on identifying the political pressures (the environment) and the functional pressures in both the organizational and environmental dimensions. However, the social pressures did not prove to be significant. We conclude that the process of deinstitutionalization results from a distinct combination of institutional factors, and these results are consistent with the findings from research conducted in the US market and in the UK

International Financial Reporting Standards and Earnings Management in Latin America

This study analyzes the level of earnings management in Latin America after the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and analyzes the role of cross-listing in the United States. The literature on earnings management in less developed countries is still under construction, and few studies focus on this issue, especially with respect to Latin America, despite its relevant role in the global economy. This paper fills this gap in the literature as it analyzes the level of IFRS earnings management regarding the first and main Latin American countries applying IFRS (Brazil and Chile), when compared to the main Anglo-Saxon countries with IFRS tradition (United Kingdom and Australia), and with the main Continental European economies (France and Germany). The results show that Latin American firms present a higher level of earnings management than Continental European and Anglo-Saxon firms, and this opportunistic behavior remains significant when only global players with cross-listing in the United States are analyzed. Thus, even with a unique set of high quality accounting standards (IFRS) and strong reporting incentives, countries’ specific characteristics still play an important role in the way IFRS is implemented in each country

A Evidenciação Contábil: Publicação de Aspectos Sócio-ambientais e Econômico-Financeiros nas Demonstrações Contábeis

A contabilidade busca, constantemente, transformar dados e registros em informações úteis, relevantes e transparentes, para atender o maior número de usuários possíveis. Como as necessidades e o grau de conhecimento sobre as demonstrações contábeis são diferentes entre os usuários, questionou-se, então, qual a forma mais eficiente de evidenciação da informação contábil, que poderia facilitar a compreensão e a interpretação de aspectos sócio-ambientais e econômico-financeiros, que tanto interessam para esses usuários. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, utilizando-se como amostra as Demonstrações Contábeis de empresas industriais, sociedades anônimas, do Estado do Espírito Santo. Foram coletados os demonstrativos contábeis referentes ao ano de 2002, publicados em 2003. De acordo com os resultados encontrados, a existência de evidenciação das informações propostas, em empresas capixabas, oscilou entre as Notas Explicativas e o Relatório da Administração, mas, dentro dos objetivos propostos e, avaliando-se o referencial teórico, o Relatório da Administração, como forma de evidenciação, mostrou-se ser mais flexível e interessante para os usuários externos, levando-se em consideração as proxies utilizadas