International Accounting Research Research Articles

Evolution, trends, and recent developments in international accounting studies: A synthesis of evidence published in “Research in Accounting Regulation”

In this paper we summarize International Accounting-related research published in Research in Accounting Regulation (RAR). RAR was a peer-reviewed academic accounting journal published from 1987 through 2018. We identify and discuss the main research areas, sub-topics, methods, research foci, and major conclusions. Additionally, we provide citation counts from google scholar and then provide more detailed analysis of those most influential articles. Our results suggest that financial accounting is the dominant focus of inquiry in RAR international studies. We also find that qualitative research methods, such as essays and documentary analyses, are most frequently used by non-US scholars publishing international accounting research. However, archival methods gain more prominence over time. In addition, we document the emergence in international accounting research using other research methods, including surveys, mathematical modeling, and experiments. Overall, our findings highlight the important role of RAR in advancing knowledge about international accounting and global auditing regulation, as well as about the crucial impact of culture on evolution of the accounting profession.

Unresolved Financial Reporting Issues: Opportunities for International Accounting Research

ABSTRACT This article identifies unresolved financial reporting issues that research can help resolve and provides examples of how adopting an international perspective can deepen the insights obtained from the research. Some of the issues pertain to well-established literatures—intangible assets, risk and uncertainty, fair value accounting, conservatism, and earnings management. Others are relatively new—namely, sustainability, particularly climate change, and digital assets, particularly crypto assets. Addressing these issues could require a reconsideration of the concepts underlying accounting standards, including thinking more broadly about accounting information to encompass more than information in financial statements, including more nonfinancial information. Regardless, there are many opportunities for international accounting research to address open questions these issues raise to provide insights into how global financial accounting and reporting might be improved.

Journal of International Accounting Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

ABSTRACT This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to examine the research published by the Journal of International Accounting Research (JIAR). JIAR was established in 2002 to disseminate high-quality accounting research that emphasizes international relevance and implications. First, we perform publication and citation analyses to identify the leading articles, authors, institutions, and geographic affiliations. Although U.S.-based authors account for most publications, authorship from Asia, Australia, and Europe is expanding. Second, based on thematic structure analyses, we identify nine key research themes among JIAR publications. Although studies relevant to international accounting remain the mainstay of the journal’s publications, other themes like corporate governance, auditing, and corporate social responsibility are growing. Our findings of successful diversification in authorship and topic areas over time attest to the contributions of past and present JIAR editorial teams in strengthening the research in international accounting and promoting accounting research internationally. Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text. JEL Classifications: M21; M40; M41.

Conducting Research in International Accounting and Finance: Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations

ABSTRACT We aim to raise awareness of the benefits of conducting international research rather than just single-country studies (which tend to be dominated by U.S. data). We outline the key challenges in terms of data collection and empirical design and propose various data sources for country-level variables, including formal and informal institutions. We also describe several hands-on approaches that are suitable in a crosscountry setting. Data Availability: Data are available from sources indicated in the paper. JEL Classifications: C1; C8.

Institutions and Corporate Tax Evasion: A Review of the Literature and a Methodological Approach

ABSTRACT We first review the recent research published in the Journal of International Accounting Research (JIAR) on the influence of international institutions on accounting practices. We follow this with a discussion of the literature by studying the influence of institutions on tax avoidance and tax evasion. We then propose a new methodological approach that draws on the theory of institutional hierarchy proposed by Williamson (2000) and examine the relative importance of three broad types of institutions (informal, formal, and media) in curtailing perceived tax evasion activities. We contribute to the international accounting literature by summarizing the recent research that addresses tax avoidance and tax evasion and by providing preliminary evidence on how employing an institutional hierarchy approach can address the interdependencies between commonly used institutional factors. Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text. JEL Classifications: H26; G28; O16.

Конвергенция учетных систем через призму теории бухгалтерского учета и парадигм гармонизации

Introduction. Contemporary research in international accounting lacks a thread linking the fundamental principles of accounting science to the key purpose of the accounting system – to promote the efficient allocation of capital by providing reliable and relevant information. This has led to the fact that accounting infrastructure focuses more on the interests of transnational companies, accounting standard makers and, in general, regional zones, which took advantage of the idea of global convergence for the sake of personal benefits, rather than on public purposes. Purpose. The aim is to show that the existing notions of global convergence of accounting systems are untenable and should be revised. To achieve the latter, the paper characterrizes the nature of convergence with accounting theory and harmonization paradigms. Materials and Methods. The work is theoretical; traditional scientific methods are used: a dialectical method of scientific cognition, a method of collecting theoretical and regulatory-legal information, a method of formalization, as well as analysis, synthesis, observation, and comparison. Results. The standards are perceived to be the benchmark of quality with no deductively-derived regulatory grounds in accounting science. This automatically gives rise to many contradictions and inconsistencies in understanding and applying existing accounting rules/principles. IFRS or US GAAP regimes in no way solve this problem, since there is no other benchmark. To solve this problem, it is necessary to resume the development of regulation-determined accounting, while empirical studies should focus on confirming or refuting regulation-driven theories and hypotheses. By now, there is no clear understanding of how the accounting infrastructure should function within the boundaries of the global and regional paradigm. Regional areas, such as the European Union, use the established system for their own personal interests and fight for the dominance of their own paradigm. Conclusions. The cause-and-effect mechanism for the accounting determinants still remains unresolved. This defines the prospects for future research on the institutional design of the accounting system within the boundaries of macro and mega levels.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Development of International Accounting Research: A Review of the Literature in the Last Two Decades

This research conducts a bibliometric analysis to examine the development of international accounting research over the past two decades. Utilizing a quantitative approach, we explore clusters, highly cited publications, and keyword occurrences within the literature. The analysis reveals six distinct clusters, each highlighting key themes such as challenges in the accounting profession, financial accounting practices, cultural influences, governance dynamics, and value relevance. Additionally, the study identifies highly cited publications that have significantly influenced the international accounting discourse, offering insights into pivotal works that have shaped the field. Keyword analysis further unveils prevalent and less explored themes, with terms like "Firm," "Market," and "Accountant" emerging prominently. The abstract concludes by discussing the implications for future research, emphasizing potential avenues for exploration and the need for a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted landscape of international accounting.

Reflections on the 20-Year Anniversary of Worldwide IFRS Adoption

ABSTRACT At the Ninth International Conference of the Journal of International Accounting Research, Editor Steve Lin organized a plenary session titled “20 Years of IFRS Research” to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the worldwide adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). During the session, each panelist presented their views on what we have learned from researching IFRS for the past 20 years and where we should go from here. This article presents a short essay from each panelist summarizing their comments, as well as related issues that were not fully explored at the conference.

The effect of environmental factors on accounting systems: a comparison between South Korea and Australia

As globalization of the business environment increases, cross-national accounting differences have been the main focus of international accounting research. Specifically, the relationship between accounting and environmental factors has been the subject of many debates over the last decade. In comparative studies of accounting history, culture and practices, researchers have become increasingly aware of the importance of environmental factors in shaping a country's accounting system. This study explores whether environmental factors influence accounting systems by comparing South Korea and Australia. Although both South Korea and Australia were colonies, they had different cultural backgrounds and different legal/judicial systems. Australia's accounting standards-setting process is based on business practices and is relatively open to public opinion, while Korea's accounting standards tend to be enforced by the government and harmonized to tax law. Many prior studies suggest that environmental factors can be a valuable tool in explaining and understanding differences in the way in which accounting operates in countries with different environments. Based on environmental factors, this study found that cultural factors and institutional structures have a significant influence on the development of accounting systems and cause their differences. This study is expected to provide a systematic framework for differences in the development of accounting systems by analyzing the effects of environmental factors on accounting systems.

Conducting Research in International Accounting and Finance: Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations

Conducting Research in International Accounting and Finance: Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations

Accounting conceptual domain within Russian-language academia: agenda for a digital economy

Considerable changes in socio-economic environment determine a new informational landscape which is primarily concerned with updating of the accounting. Over the recent decades a notable decrease in the relevance of accounting has been generating a need for rethinking its outlines in both scientific and practical discourse. This article is motivated by theoretical heterogeneity in accounting theory, criticism inside and outside the accounting community and even doubts in the future of this profession. The paper examines the prospects and the drivers of the accounting conceptual domain, its conceptual field and methodology updating in the new economy. The ways current challenges may change research paradigms and pluralize approaches to the theoretical background and the object field of accounting in the Russian-language academia and practice are considered. Approaches to problem solving in the Russian-language and international scientific accounting research are compared and opportunities for accounting paradigm upgrading in the modern economy are explored. Keywords: accounting, paradigm, digital economy, information, methodology, subject field, approach.

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Theoretical and methodological milestones in international accounting research: the contributions of Jill L. McKinnon

PurposeThis paper chronicles Jill McKinnon's theoretical and methodological contributions to international accounting research generally and socio-cultural research specifically over a 25-year period, 1981–2006. The purposes are: (1) to apprise contemporary and future researchers in international accounting, working with a socio-cultural lens, of a major contributor and contribution to the historical origin and development of that lens; and (2) to revisit and reappraise McKinnon's identification of critical theoretical and methodological cautions to guide future research in international accounting.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a historical narrative and contemporary appraisal of: (1) McKinnon's seminal doctoral research into the Japanese system of corporate reporting regulation using a holistic and dynamic socio-cultural model of social systems change; and (2) her contribution to the advancement of cross-cultural international accounting research including her critique of that research leading to the identification of cautions, the recognition and observance of which are critical to the development of contemporary and future research. The narrative is informed by historical context of time and space, and imbued and interwoven with the personal story of McKinnon both as human and humane.FindingsMcKinnon's research invoking holistic theoretical and methodological perspectives provides a continuing template and pathway to guide contemporary and future international accounting researchers and to shape the development of international accounting research. Her career, research and humanity leave a legacy distilled into four themes that serve as counsels for accounting research and researchers; eclecticism of world-view and method choice, rigour, holism and the importance of collegiality with and to the accounting research community.Originality/valueThe paper provides original insights into the personality, career development and research of an important contributor to international accounting research specifically and interdisciplinary research in accounting generally. The paper demonstrates empirically the importance of historical analysis, contextualized by time, space and person, in understanding and informing the present state of international accounting research and, hence, linking past, present and future.

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The internationalisation of management accounting research in the German-speaking countries – a longitudinal study

PurposeThis paper aims to study the internationalisation of management accounting research in the German-speaking countries and to analyse whether researchers from these countries rely on their intellectual heritage or adapt to the conventions prevailing in the international community.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a research taxonomy of 273 papers published by management accounting researchers from the German-speaking countries between 2005 and 2018 in domestic and international journals with regard to topics, settings, methods, data origins and theories of these papers. The study also systematically compares these publications with the publications by international scholars as synthesised in selected prior bibliometric studies.FindingsThe findings suggest that German-speaking researchers increasingly adapt to the conventions prevailing in the international management accounting literature. Indicative of this development is the crowding out of traditional core areas of German-speaking management accounting such as cost accounting by management control topics. The study also finds that German-speaking researchers increasingly rely on the research methods and theories prevailing internationally.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper documents considerable changes in the publications of management accounting researchers from the German-speaking countries. These changes raise the question how other national research communities internationalise and whether these processes lead to a greater homogenisation of international management accounting research, which might impair the advancement of management accounting knowledge.Originality/valueThis paper provides first empirical evidence on how management accounting research conducted in the German-speaking countries has changed in the course of the internationalisation of the research community and builds an important basis for future research in other geographic settings.

PENGARUH BIAYA AUDIT TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDIT DAN DETERMINAN BIAYA AUDIT

PENGARUH BIAYA AUDIT TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDIT DAN DETERMINAN BIAYA AUDIT

Are insiders equal? Evidence from earnings management in closely held East Asian firms

In analyzing newly collected data on the ultimate ownership structure of publicly traded firms in nine East Asian economies, we contribute to international accounting research by providing evidence on earnings management in insider-controlled firms in this region. We find that family-controlled firms engage in less (more) accrual-based (real) earnings management than other insider-controlled firms. Our analysis suggests that controlling families, unlike other types of ultimate owners, tend to substitute real earnings management for accrual-based earnings management. To help empirically clarify the role that two incentives (entrenchment versus signaling) play in driving the substitution between real and accruals-based earnings management, we examine their valuation impact and find that both types negatively affect the future valuation of family firms. In another set of results consistent with expectations, we document that country-level investor protection and firm external financing demand shape the practice of earnings management in family-controlled firms.