Financial Statements and Positive Accounting Theory. The Early Contribution of Aldo Amaduzzi

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Melis
Keyword(s):  
Financial Statements ◽  
Early Contribution ◽  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Positive Accounting Theory

User Primacy, Positive Accounting Theory, and Nonaudit Services: Evidence from the SEC's Independence Hearings

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Ethical Egoism ◽  
The Public ◽  
Nonaudit Services ◽  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Positive Accounting Theory

An analysis of the testimony given before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on auditors' independence requirements indicates that users of financial statements generally favored increased restrictions on the scope of nonaudit services provided by external auditors to their audit clients, while corporate management and public accounting (professional service) firms providing nonaudit services did not. Moreover, users of the financial statements generally favored the more extensive ban on nonaudit services over the SEC's proposed list of proscriptions. The principle of user primacy, a principle that has been espoused by regulatory and accounting standard-setting bodies, holds that the interests of the users of financial reports take precedence over the interests of the report preparers. However, the SEC's final ruling on auditor independence requirements was more closely aligned with the position taken by the preparers. An analysis of the arguments presented in the transcripts and the regulations promulgated suggests that positive accounting theory predicated on instrumental economic and political power better explains the SEC's behavior than do considerations relative to the public interest reflected in the principle of user primacy. Positive accounting theory provides the theoretical model for the empirical research supporting nonregulation of nonaudit services and represents a theoretical model that explains the actions of the SEC as reflected in the final ruling on auditor independence requirements. Further, while positive accounting theory represents the underlying dogma upon which rhetorical arguments against increased regulation are grounded, the arguments themselves are framed and justified using the rhetoric of user primacy, which suggests either a nai¨ve belief in the ultimate generalized good of the neoclassical assumption of instrumental, self-interested behavior (ethical egoism), or a juxtaposition of incompatible theoretical frameworks. The discussion and analysis suggests, and subsequent events seem to confirm, the incompatibility of the two perspectives and, thus, the inability of positive accounting theory-based arguments to provide adequate grounds for acting in the public interest. The principle of user primacy affords legitimate grounds for evaluating regulatory alternatives and should provide the theoretical and empirical basis upon which to evaluate regulatory proposals.

scholarly journals PERSPEKTIF OPORTUNISTIK DAN EFISIEN DALAM FENOMENA MANAJEMEN LABA

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denies Priantinah
Keyword(s):  
Political Cost ◽  
Debt Covenant ◽  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Positive Accounting Theory

Managemen laba bisa muncul dari adanya problem asimetri informasi dan konflik keagenan. Kondisi asimetri informasi ini akan eksis apabila kepemilikan ekuitas terpisah dari operasi perusahaan dan manager memiliki keunggulan atas informasi dibandingkan pemegang saham. Di sisi lain kondisi pasar tidak sempurna mampu menciptakan lingkungan bagi manager untuk melakukan diskresi akuntansi yang dilakukan untuk kepentingan manager yang dibebankan pada pemegang saham. Namun, di sisi lain managemen laba juga mampu menciptakan kesempatan bagi manager untuk menggunakan diskresi akuntansi untuk mengkomunikasikan kinerja perusahaan terkait dengan informasi dengan cara yang memadai kepada para investor.Salah satu alasan  yang mendasari fenomena managemen laba ini terus eksis dan dilakukan oleh banyak perusahaan karena adanya sisi baik dari managemen laba. Sisi baik dari managemen laba bisa ditinjau dari sudut pandang kontrak efisien dan pelaporan keuangan. Dari perspektif kontrak efisien dalam Positive Accounting Theory, tingkat managemen laba bisa dianggap baik karena mampu meningkatkan efisiensi kontrak, alih-alih dilakukan sebagai bentuk perilaku oportunistik managemen. Kontrak yang efisien, memberikan keleluasaan kemampuan bagi manager untuk mengelola laba dalam kontrak yang rigid dan incomplete. Dalam kondisi ini, interpretasi terhadap perilaku managemen laba yang dilakukan manager dalam hal skema bonus, perjanjian hutang dan biaya politik harus dilakukan secara hati-hati, karena perilaku tersebut bisa mengambil bentuk sebagai perilaku yang efisien atau oportunis.Perspektif perilaku oportunistik atas managemen laba, memiliki sudut pandang bahwa manager menggunakan asimetri informasi antara pihak eksternal dan internal perusahaan untuk memaksimisasi utilitas mereka terkait dengan kontrak kompensasi, kontrak hutang dan regulasi. Investor kemudian dikelabuhi dengan laporan informasi yang tidak reliabel. Manfaat dari manajemen laba ditengarai diperoleh jika manajer melakukan manajemen laba demi kepentingan entitas, khususnya pemegang saham. Fenomena ini banyak ditemui dalam hal political cost dan debt covenant. Penggunaan manajemen laba yang mengedepankan kepentingan perusahaan ini masuk dalam perspektif efisien. Dua sisi manajemen laba, yakni perspektif efisien dan perspektif oportunistik terjadi dalam banyak perusahaan. Usaha untuk menekan perilaku manajemen laba tentunya kemudian sedikit banyak harus memperhatikan dampak yang muncul atas perilaku tersebut, apakah dilakukan dalam kepentingan pribadi manajer atau untuk kepentingan entitas. Kata kunci: Manajemen Laba, Perspektif Oportunistik

scholarly journals FINANCIAL REPORTING CONSEQUENCES OF CAPITAL XENOPHOBIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Godsell
Keyword(s):  
National Security ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Foreign Capital ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
The Political ◽  
Extant Literature ◽  
Political Cost ◽  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Positive Accounting Theory

The purpose of this editorial is to describe financial protectionism as a potentially important determinant of financial reporting outcomes. Fear of foreign capital, or capital xenophobia, spurs financial protectionism. Examining the effects of financial protectionism on financial reporting outcomes potentially permits an expansion of positive accounting theory and, in particular, the political cost hypothesis. I first describe extant literature examining the political cost hypothesis. I then describe national-security related drivers of capital xenophobia. Next, I examine settings in which we can observe variation in financial protectionism. I conclude by positing varied paths by which financial protectionism can affect financial reporting outcomes.

scholarly journals The opportunistic approach of the Positive Accounting Theory (PAT) fails to explain choices made at OGX: An anomalous situation?

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. e164412
Author(s):  
Adolfo Henrique Coutinho e Silva ◽  
Moacir Sancovschi ◽  
Ariane Gabriela Chagas dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Corporate Scandals ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Accounting Choices ◽  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Income Accounting ◽  
Accounting Changes ◽  
Positive Accounting Theory

This paper has two objectives: (1) to demonstrate that the main accounting choices made by accountants and managers of OGX Company throughout its full business life cycle were not opportunistic, as often suggested by the hypothesis of Positive Accounting Theory; and (2) to demonstrate that these accounting choices may be better explained by the Theory of Corporate Scandals, by the Monitoring Hypothesis and by the Corporate Reputation Hypothesis. The research was conducted using a longitudinal case study approach, from 2006-2015, in order to identify visible accounting decisions in annual financial statements reports. It was found that the analyzed Company had the incentives to preform opportunistic accounting choices, such as the ones predicted by the PAT hypothesis and had also done through several situations in its business life cycle that could have influenced it to perform opportunistic accounting choices. However, there is no evidence that the Company ever made use of either opportunistic increasing-income accounting changes to impact their financial debt-covenants and bonus plan, or decreasing-income accounting to avoid government intervention, as suggested by the opportunistic approach of PAT hypothesis.

scholarly journals TEORI AKUNTANSI MASA KINI

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Selmita Paranoan
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Cost Of Capital ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Position ◽  
Specific Objective ◽  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Economic Transaction ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Public Economy

<p><em>This paper presents the development of the scope of accounting theory because of the growing need for information which is presented in the financial statements. The specific objective of financial statements is to present the consolidated financial position, results of operations, and changes in financial position in accordance GAAP (General Accepted Accounting Principles). The definition of this accounting purposes have weaknesses or limitations.Critics of the limitations of conventional accounting that must be done parallelization with practices in the present economic institutions that continue to grow with various forms of economic transaction of business done. This paper discusses the five major developments in accounting theory scope of the present and future who attempt to address the above challenges, namely: Accounting for the public economy (accounting socioeconomic); Accounting for human resources (human resources accounting); Accounting for the cost of capital (accounting for the cost of capital); Report of financial forecasts (reporting of Financial forecasts); The trend towards multi-national accounting. This proves, that the accounting as a science must continue to conduct research and intensive studies to give birth to the theory of accounting in accordance with the needs of economic civilization of the present and future need.</em></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p><strong><em></em></strong><em></em></p>

Criticizing positive accounting theory

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAWRENCE A. BOLAND ◽  
IRENE M. GORDON
Keyword(s):  
Accounting Theory ◽  
Positive Accounting Theory
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