scholarly journals Did Fair-Value Accounting Contribute to the Financial Crisis?

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Laux ◽  
Christian Leuz
2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Menicucci ◽  
Guido Paolucci

Purpose The aim of this paper is to review the main results of accounting research literature examining the role of fair value accounting (FVA) within financial crisis. This research analyzes theoretical and empirical studies on the controversial topic about FVA and its alleged pro-cyclicality in the context of the financial crisis to offer solid reflections for improving the fair value research agenda. Design/methodology/approach This paper consists of a descriptive literature review. Theoretical and empirical research studies were investigated and then systematized in a framework to guide a literature-based analysis and critique of the relevant literature published about this topic. Findings The review reveals that there has been only a limited amount of research into the role of FVA within the financial crisis. This topic has not been researched extensively, and there is no empirical evidence that FVA caused the financial crunch and the subsequent financial crisis. Research limitations/implications The restricted amount of literature that directly deals with FVA in the context of the financial crisis is the main limitation of this paper. The specificity of the theme narrows the coverage. However, the adopted research methodology enabled the main contributions concerning this issue to be collected, to realize a concise and comprehensive portrait of the debate surrounding FVA and the financial crisis. Practical implications This paper can be of use to both researchers and practitioners interested in investigating strengths and weaknesses of the fair value concept for accounting purposes. The paper sets out the main findings of the academic literature and identifies future avenues of theoretical and practical research which may support standard setters to draw up improved accounting regulation. Originality/value Few existing studies consist of a literature review that examines theoretical and empirical researches on the influence of FVA on the financial system. This review offers a comprehensive overview on research literature concerning the responsibility of FVA in causing the financial crisis. The main contribution of this paper relates to further understanding the role and effects of accounting matters concerning fair value in a broad sense within the context of the financial crisis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 535-547
Author(s):  
Masaki Kusano

The purpose of this study is to examine whether fair value accounting promotes procyclicality by focusing on securitization transactions before the financial crisis. This study demonstrates the relationship between securitization accounting and procyclicality using a parsimonious model. The findings are as follows. Sale accounting increases the capital ratio compared with that before a securitization transaction. Banks’ executives have incentives to increase both assets and debt within the limits of their target capital ratio (leverage ratio) for executive compensation and market reputation; assets (lending) will be increased. When banks conduct securitization transactions and adopt sale accounting to enhance short-term profits, the capital ratio increases under the certain condition. Thus, banks will increase assets (lending) within the limit of their target capital ratio (leverage ratio). As banks increase and expand their lending during economic booms, the economic booms are accelerated. It is expected that both sale accounting and fair value accounting promote procyclicality during economic booms.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-37
Author(s):  
Iryna Burdenko

For the last 20 years fair value accounting has considerably extended its domain. Fair value is a probabilistic market value, which is expected to be obtained on the basis of forecasting of future events, connected with an asset sale or transfer of liabilities. The purpose of fair value is to define a price of an ordinary operation of an asset sale or transfer of liabilities between the market participants, which would have taken place by the date of measurement in the present market conditions. Market value is fair only with an active market, at which prices are determined by demand and supply. This is the reason of a discussion about the use of fair value. The opponents of fair value accounting state that exactly fair value has become a cause of financial crisis and had a negative influence on companies. However, there are many supporters of fair value accounting, who state that fair value is the indicator of financial system significant difficulties and it helps in warning financial crises. The purpose of the article is to validate the economic characteristics of fair value and to analyze its` role in a financial crisis


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