Abstract
The promulgation by the FASB of SFAS 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, in 1997 (FASB, 1997)(effective 1998) heralded a new era of segment reporting in the United States. The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact and effectiveness of the new standard with reference to geographic segment disclosures. Given the criticisms of its predecessor, SFAS 14, relating to segment identification and the consistency of internal and external reporting, the key issue is the extent to which companies have responded to the changes in geographic information disclosures required by SFAS 131. An empirical study of the 1997 and 1998 annual reports of US Global 1000 companies reveals mixed results. While more country specific data is disclosed and the consistency of disclosures with other parts of the annual report is increased, the problem of reporting highly aggregated geographic areas remains for a significant group of companies.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callMore From: Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation
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.
