Example research essay topic: Need For Harmonization Of International Accounting Standards - 976 words

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Introduction As there has been a tremendous growth in the market place with the existing accounting practices, this leads us to question why do we need harmonization of International accounting standards, what are its advantages and what are the barriers that hinder harmonization? Although accounting may be the "language of business, " a common language has never been necessary -- at least as long as the world economy consisted of a set of more or less distinct national economies. (Mednick 1991) (Cited in: web) This, however, is no longer true. We now have a global economy and it has affected the entire business world. For instance, today's global corporation may have more than one headquarters, and its production and distribution facilities are probably scattered throughout the world. Commodity prices, interest rates and currency exchange values have become internationally linked -- with the result that governments around the world are increasingly supporting harmonization of accounting practices and national policies. (Walters) (Cited in: Biscay and Jayson 1989) Harmonization is necessary because standard national financial statements are virtually useless; financial markets in more regulated countries are threatened with a loss of market share; and multinational corporations must prepare multiple reports for different nations they do business in. (Notes and Parker 1991) (Cited in: web) There is a need for harmonization for accounting standards in order to help the foreign investor to understand the financial statements of the foreign companies who's shares they might want to buy. (Iqbal, Melcher and Elmallah 1997) Financial information is a form of a language. And if the language of financial information is to be put to use, so that investment and credit decisions can more readily be taken, it should not only be intelligible, it should also be comparable. (Belkaoui 1994) These new environmental factors of the global economy, the international monetary system, the Multinational Corporation and foreign direct investment create an environment in which business transactions, their conduct, measurement and disclosure, takes new and distinctive form that call for a specific accounting sub discipline or the harmonization of accounting practices.

Advantages of Harmonization (Turner 1983) The greatest benefit that would flow from harmonization would be the comparability of international financial information. Such comparability would eliminate the current misunderstandings about the reliability of foreign financial statements and would remove one of the most important impediments to the flow of international investment. (Choi, Frost and Meek 1999) Harmonization would save time and money that is currently spent to consolidate divergent financial information when more than one set of reports is required to comply with the different national laws or practice. It will also improve the tendency for accounting standards throughout the world to be raised to the highest possible level and to be consistent with local economic, legal and social conditions. (Notes and parker 2002) It would be beneficial to those countries which still do not have adequate codified standards of accounting and auditing and to international accountancy firms with clients of firms which have at least one foreign subsidiary. It would also help in raising foreign capital as investors, financial analysts and foreign lenders will be able to understand the financial statements of foreign companies (Samuels and Piper 1985) (Cited in: Blake and Hossain 1996) and they would be able to compare the investment opportunities which will help them to make the right investment decision. The benefit International accounting firms will have with the harmonisation of accounting practices will be the movement of staff across national boundaries will become easier and it will be less expensive to provide training to their staff. (Lawrence 1996) As taxes are levied on the total global income of an organisation, it would be of great assistance to the national tax authorities around the world if net income was computed on similar accounting principles and practices. (O'Malley 1993) Global accounting and disclosure standards would make it easier to conduct the competitive and operational analyses needed to run businesses.

It will also make it easier for financial executives to manage critical relationships with customers, suppliers and others. The group that would benefit the most out of the harmonisation of accounting standard would be the Multi-national companies (Lawrence 1996) as the communication of financial information within the groups would become easier. With the harmonization of reporting standards it would be easier for MNC's to fulfil the disclosure requirement for stock exchanges around the world. Obstacles in Harmonisation of Accounting Standards (Notes & Parker 2002) The most fundamental of obstacles to harmonization are the size of the present differences between the accounting practices of different countries, lack of strong professional accountancy bodies in some countries, and the differences in political and economic systems. (Saudagaran 2001) Nationalism also posses a threat to harmonisation as countries are wary of ceding control of their accounting regulation to outsiders, especially if it is perceived as replacing their own accounting regulations with those of other countries. (Mednick 1991) (Cited in: web) If accounting measurement rules were the only difference among countries, then straightforward translations would be sufficient to enable reports to be universally understood and interpreted.

However, countries also exhibit substantial economic and cultural differences that preclude simple interpretations, even when the figures are generated using the same accounting principles. Accounting standards in any society are an outgrowth of that society's needs and perspectives. For example, British and U. S. accounting rules reflect the concepts of fairness and substance over form as opposed to the Napoleonic Code, which is much more compliance-oriented. The degree to which the government is involved in standard-setting also varies from country to country.

Whereas professional organizations set the standards in Britain, for example, the government assumes this responsibility in France. The U. S. is in between: standards are basically set by professional organizations, but with the government acting as the ultimate enforcer. In any event, close government scrutiny of accounting standards adds...

Research essay sample on Need For Harmonization Of International Accounting Standards