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
