Discussion of Earnings Management through Transaction Structuring: Contingent Convertible Debt and Diluted Earnings per Share

Abstract

Neutrality means that either in formulating or implementing standards, the primary concern should be the relevance and reliability of the information that results, not the effect that the new rule may have on a particular interest.... To be neutral, accounting information must report economic activity as faithfully as possible, without coloring the image it communicates for the purpose of influencing behavior in some particular direction. [emphasis in the original] (FASB [1980, para. 98-100])