Value Relevance Research Research Articles

The relevance of the value relevance literature for financial accounting standard setting: another view

This paper explains that value relevance research assesses how well accounting amounts reflect information used by equity investors, and provides insights into questions of interest to standard setters. A primary focus of financial statements is equity investment. Other uses of financial statement information, such as contracting, do not diminish the importance of value relevance research. Value relevance questions can be addressed using extant valuation models. Value relevance studies address econometric issues that otherwise could limit inferences, and can accommodate and be used to study the implications of accounting conservatism.

The relevance of the value-relevance literature for financial accounting standard setting

In this paper we critically evaluate the standard-setting inferences that can be drawn from value relevance research studies that are motivated by standard setting. Our evaluation concentrates on the theories of accounting, standard setting and valuation that underlie those inferences. Unless those underlying theories are descriptive of accounting, standard setting and valuation, the value-relevance literature's reported associations between accounting numbers and common equity valuations have limited implications or inferences for standard setting; they are mere associations. We argue that the underlying theories are not descriptive and hence drawing standard-setting inferences is difficult.

The Relevance of the Value Relevance Literature For Financial Accounting Standard Setting: Another View

This paper offers a view of the relevance of value relevance research for financial accounting standard setting that contrasts with the view offered in Holthausen and Watts (2001) (hereafter HW). A key conclusion of HW is that value relevance research offers little or no insight for standard setting. As active participants in value relevance research, our purpose is to clarify the relevance of the value relevance literature to financial accounting standard setting. Because we are discussants of HW, we only address issues raised in that paper. In particular, HW is limited in scope to a discussion of the relevance of the value relevance literature for financial accounting standard setting; it does not comprehensively review the value relevance literature. Accordingly, our discussion is similarly limited. A key conclusion of our paper is that the value relevance literature provides fruitful insights for standard setting. This paper also clarifies several misconceptions articulated in HW regarding value relevance research. In particular, in contrast with HW, we conclude: (1) value relevance research provides insights into questions of interest to standard setters and other non-academic constituents. (2) A primary focus of the FASB and other standard setters is equity investment. The possible contracting and other uses of financial statements in no way diminish the importance of value relevance research. (3) Empirical implementations of extant valuation models can be used to address questions of value relevance despite their simplifying assumptions. (4) Value relevance research can accommodate conservatism, and can be used to study its implications for the relation between accounting amounts and equity values. (5) Value relevance studies are designed to assess whether particular accounting amounts reflect information that is used by investors in valuing firms' equity, not to estimate firm value. (6) Value relevance research employs well-established techniques for mitigating the effects of various econometric issues that arise in value relevance studies.