Participation in the Process of Setting Public Sector Accounting Standards: the Case of IPSASB

Abstract

Accounting standard-setting bodies employ mechanisms for stakeholder participation in the standard-setting process. While due process procedures of national and international accounting standards boards have been studied in various contexts, the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) is a unique organisational body warranting study at a fundamental level. IPSASB has celebrated 20 years of standard setting; however, as a transnational standard setter, the IPSASB lacks determinate authoritative status, and adoption of its standards is quite varied. Given such circumstances, what stakeholders participate in IPSASB’s due process procedures, and in what manner? This paper identifies the stakeholder type, the tone of response, and the geographical origin of respondents submitting comment letters to IPSASB due process documents. Although in principle the effort to develop European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS) is independent of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), IPSAS have been cited as ‘an indisputable reference’ for the development of EPSAS; thus stakeholder participation in the setting of IPSAS is also relevant to those interested in developing EPSAS.