Abstract

Financial reporting standards require that many future‐oriented expenditures for intangibles, such as development costs and personnel training, be expensed in the current period. These standards cause such expenditures to be indistinguishable from expenditures for current revenues, and penalize the earnings of firms making future‐oriented expenditures for intangibles. The current focus on earnings encourages firms to sacrifice long‐term economic objectives for higher reported earnings. This paper analyzes the need for improved reporting for future oriented expenditures. Improved accounting for future‐oriented expenditures would enhance the market’s ability to value stocks, improve company performance, and benefit investors and creditors.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.