...61) Journal of Modern Accounting and Auditing, ISSN 1548-6583, USA Fair value accounting under financial crisis HE Cai-xia1, ZHANG Chi2 (1. School of Accounting, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China; 2. School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430073, China) Abstract: The recent financial crisis has led to a vigorous debate about the pros and cons of fair-value accounting (FVA). This debate presents a major challenge for FVA going forward and standard setters’ push to extend FVA into other areas. In this article, we highlight three important issues as an attempt to make sense of the debate. First, much of the controversy results from confusion about what is new and different about FVA. Second, while there are legitimate concerns about marking to market (or pure FVA) in times of financial crisis, it is less clear that these problems apply to FVA as stipulated by the accounting standards, be it IFRS or U.S. GAAP. Third, historical cost accounting (HCA) is unlikely to be the remedy. There are a number of concerns about HCA as well and these problems could be larger than those with FVA. Key words: fair value accounting; historical cost accounting; financial crisis 1. Introduction The recent financial crisis has turned the spotlight on fair-value accounting (FVA) and led to a major policy debate involving among others the U.S. Congress, the European Commission as well banking and accounting regulators around the...
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...world economy. Speculation was rife that accounting standards, in particular, fair value accounting was the prime reason for this significant meltdown. “This sparked a fierce debate with some experts believing that fair value accounting was primary cause of the crisis whilst others considered that it exacerbated it. On the other side of the debate were those commentators that believed that fair value accounting was successful in acting as an early warning system and effectively prevented more calamitous consequences.” (Pabuccu, 2011) In response to this speculation, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) immediately took action to review this matter and implement the necessary changes to address the uncertainty surrounding Fair Value accounting. Body Due to the economic significance of the crisis, financial commentators around the world analysed the situation, made comment, pointed the finger; and laid blame for this event. Due to the speculation, a ferocious debate commenced, with many of them believing that fair-value accounting was the primary cause of this event. Bubbles and Busts have occurred throughout history and are closely linked to the periods preceding a financial crisis. According to McMahon (2011), “fair-value accounting amplifies business cycles and seems to significantly contribute to bubbles and busts.” In her opinion fair-value accounting is largely to blame for the global financial...
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...management. He holds a BS in accounting from the City University of New York, Brooklyn College and a JD from Fordham University School of Law. He is the author of the 2009 award-winning article ‘Meet Two-Face: The Dualistic Rule 10b-5 and the Quandary of Offsetting Losses by Gains’. Fordham Law Review 77(6): 3045–3094. Correspondence: Samuel Francis, 321 Roselle Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, USA E-mail: samfrancis@optonline.net ABSTRACT At the center of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008 was the collapse of American International Group, brought on by extensive unhedged positions in derivatives, such as credit default swaps, and possibly exacerbated by mark-to-market accounting rules. Even though these rules generally produce the most realistic valuations of derivatives, a heated debate broke out over their application in a dislocated market. The foremost concern was that forcing financial institutions to mark down assets to their current market prices actually causes further declines. Regulators largely dismissed such concerns, but acknowledged that the existing standards could use additional clarification and modification. Many scholarly studies have since concurred that the rules should not be replaced, but suggest that additional measures should be taken to avoid their potential procyclical effects. Journal of Derivatives & Hedge Funds (2011) 17, 122–132. doi:10.1057/jdhf.2011.6; published online 9 June 2011 Keywords: mark-to-market; fair value accounting; credit default swaps;...
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...largely driven by a dramatic fall of $US 8.5 billion in Lehman’s revenues from principal transactions, which include realized and unrealized gains or losses from financial instruments and other inventory positions owned. A significant portion of the downward shift in principal transactions revenues is actually explained by unrealized losses of $US 1.6 billion in the first semester of 2008 vs. unrealized gains of $US 200 million in the first semester of 2007. Thus, accounting at fair value for some financial assets amplified Lehman's downward earnings performance. Hence, it can be put forward that FVA, through its magnifying impact on earnings volatility, may have contributed to aggravate investors', regulators' and governments' perceptions with respect to the severity of the crisis, itself characterized by record volatility in the prices of many securities and goods. On a related note, the increased volatility brought forward by FVA is conducive to the use of equity-based compensation, especially stock options, which value is then enhanced (according to the Black-Scholes model, volatility is one of the key inputs in option valuation). Prior research 此前的研究 suggests that there is a strong association between performance volatility and the use of stock options. 選項。 20 20 Through FVA, the outcomes from aggressive risk-taking in investment and financing strategies will directly flow into reported earnings, thus further leveraging the potential gains to be derived from stock options and...
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...FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT: IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND CHALLENGES (PART 1) (by Tuam Kwok Choon and Ng Kean Kok) INTRODUCTION Since the promulgation of fair value accounting by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the subject matter has been hotly debated by industry players and professionals of the accounting fraternity the world over. Many problems and pitfalls have been highlighted on the "mark-to-market" premise. For example, David Gwilliam and Richard H.G. Jackson (2008) noted that Enron "was able to 'monetize' physical assets so as to bring them within the remit of mark to market accounting", suggesting misuse of fair value measurement. Fair value is said to be superior to other forms of measurement because it is easily understood by investors and stakeholders. It is also timely, neutral, representationally faithful, reliable, relevant, comparable and consistent. Fair value reporting is deemed to be more transparent and investor-confident. However equally important is that fair value measurement is subject to constraints such as human judgment, the location and condition of the asset/liability being measured, the determination of market, the most advantageous market value as against the entity's perspective, transaction price presumption (exit price verses entry price in different markets), the bid-ask spread of financial instsruments, and transportation cost exclusion, to name a few. Brief definition of fair value: Defined as, “The price that would be received...
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...Accounting for Stock Options http://www.nysscpa.org/printversions/cpaj/2005/805/p30.htm Print Accounting for Stock Options Update on the Continuing Conflict By Nicholas G. Apostolou and D. Larry Crumbley AUGUST 2005 - In December 2004, a decade after bending to Congressional pressure and backing away from requiring the expensing of options on financial statements, FASB issued a revised standard to recognize stock-option compensation as an expense on income statements. Many in Congress may try to thwart the proposal before it becomes effective. A bill by Representative Richard Baker of Louisiana that would require expensing the cost of stock options for only the top five executives of a company has drawn the support of those groups still resolutely opposed to expensing. This time, however, FASB is likely to prevail. Investors are demanding tougher accounting standards, and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has already passed rules requiring the expensing of options. Many large U.S. corporations have already voluntarily agreed to expense options. Finally, there is more concern about, and less support for, Congressional interference in FASB’s standards-setting process. History of the Debate Accounting for stock options has been one of the most controversial topics in accounting during the last decade. The principal debate is whether compensation expense should be recognized for stock options and, if so, the periods over which it should be allocated. Before 1995...
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...The pros and cons of regulating corporate reporting:A critical review of the arguments Robert Bushman, Wayne R. Landsman Accounting and Business ResearchVol. 40, Iss. 3, 2010 Introduction There were a series of scandals in the UK in the 90’s which resulted in the collapse of Barings Bank, due to this the Financial Services Authority changed the structure of financial regulation that consolidated regulation responsibilities. The aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009 has drawn the financial accounting standard setting into the orbit of political processes focused on restructuring the regulation of the world’s financial markets. The crisis has ignited worldwide debate on issues of systemic risk and the role played by financial regulation in creating exacerbating the crisis. There have been proposals for how to regulate the financial markets and financial institutions should be changed to ease the potential for large scale financial meltdowns in the future. There are many aspects of the financial system under debate, including the alleged role played by financial accounting standards in deepening the trajectory of the crisis. The crisis has forced politicians, regulators and economists to scrutinise financial accounting standards and create pressure for change, which creates an opportune moment to consider how to organise the analysis of efficient regulatory choice. This paper lays out the basic arguments that have been put forth both for and against...
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...| BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING | ACCT 525-22936 Current Issues in Accounting | Professor Kabani | Robert Larison | 10/20/2013 | In this paper I look at the benefits and challenges that are likely to follow the migration into the use of Fair Value Accounting. Perhaps, there is no issue today that carries with it as much controversy as does “FVA”. | BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING INTRODUCTION I do not think any topic in accounting has gathered as much interest as has the subject of “Fair Value Accounting” “FVA”. Heightened by the financial crisis of recent years “FVA” has received enormous attention by both academia and the business community alike. Rarely do “conspiracy theorists” make their way into the humdrum subject matter of accounting, but when it comes to the issue of “FVA” accounting, almost anything and everything has been postulated. The most widely held belief is that the move to “FVA” is to blame for the financial crisis of 2007. (Sorkin, 2008.) I have evaluated “FVA” and the transition from “historical value accounting “HVA”. In particular, I have researched the evolution within the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) as it pertains to “FVA”. I have also reviewed the move toward the establishment of one set of standards for worldwide accounting as evidenced by the “convergence” project. With that in mind, we only need to look to the International Accounting Standards Board and its IFRS to get a...
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...Fair Value Accounting: The Road to Be Most Travelled By Rock Lefebvre, Elena Simonova and Mihaela Scarlat Fair Value Accounting: The Road to Be Most Travelled By Rock Lefebvre, Elena Simonova and Mihaela Scarlat December 2009 Sponsored by the Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario Introduction ................................................................................................................................ Fair Value Accounting – An Overview....................................................................................... 4 5 Critique of Fair Value Accounting ............................................................................................. 14 Arguments in Support of Fair Value Accounting ....................................................................... 17 Concluding Remarks.................................................................................................................. 20 2 Issue in Focus Executive Summary The use of fair value accounting has gained momentum and has proven to attract a level of attention rarely witnessed in the annals of accounting practice. One of the driving forces is the belief endorsed by some that fair value accounting initiated and aggravated the recent credit crisis. In light of these circumstances, it is considered timely to advance awareness in relation to fair value accounting and to clarify the competing arguments in favour of, and against, the use of...
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...Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies ------------------------------------------------- Department of Accounting ACC601 – Corporate Accounting Trimester 2, 2012 Research Assignment 2, (10%) Instructions: ( For Education students only) Note * This assignment is to be carried out in groups of three. * Students are required to choose only one topic, and write a research report, based on the format given. * The assignment must comply with normal academic requirements. Refer to the course outline and regulation concerned with plagiarism and copying! * The assignment is out of 10 marks and carries a weighting of 10% towards the overall assessment. * Hard copy & soft assignments must be submitted on or before 24th July 2012. Your written assignment submission format * Cover page – ID# and full name of group members * Acknowledgement declaration (if any interviews conducted) * Abstract / Value of research ½ page * Your research topic / company * why you choose a particular company/ topic – Rationale/ value of research * Methodology of obtaining research information 1page * Quantitative/ and qualitative analysis * Introduction1page * What is your topic and briefly discuss about that topic(aims & objectives) * Literature reviews 2pages * Any recent discussions, views and debates raised on your chosen topic/area * Check / argue on the recent developments in this area, and your...
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...1468-4497.2006.00196.x ABACUS PRINCIPLES ORIGINAL ARTICLE 2 42 © 2006 0001-3072Publishing, Ltd. Abacus UK VERSUS RULES-BASED ACCOUNTING ABA Accounting Foundation, Unviersity of Sydney Oxford, Blackwell GEORGE J. BENSTON, MICHAEL BROMWICH AND ALFRED WAGENHOFER Principles- Versus Rules-Based Accounting Standards: The FASB’s Standard Setting Strategy In response to criticism of rules-based accounting standards and Section 108(d) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC proposed principlesbased (or ‘objectives-oriented’) standards. We identify several shortcomings with this approach and focus on two of them. First, the format (type) of a standard is dependent on the contents of what the standard regulates. Given the asset/liability approach combined with fair values, we argue that the combination of this measurement concept with principlesbased standards is inconsistent because it requires significant guidance for management judgment. Second, we propose the inclusion of a trueand-fair override as a necessary requirement for any format that is more than ‘principles-only’ to deal with inconsistencies between principles and guidance. We discuss the benefits of this override and present evidence from the United Kingdom’s experience. Key words: Accounting standards; FASB; Principles; Rules; Rules-based. According to a widely-held view, U.S. accounting standards are more rules-based than principles-based.1 This observation stems in large part from the emphasis put on two aspects...
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...Accounting for Stock Options http://www.nysscpa.org/printversions/cpaj/2005/805/p30.htm Print Accounting for Stock Options Update on the Continuing Conflict By Nicholas G. Apostolou and D. Larry Crumbley AUGUST 2005 - In December 2004, a decade after bending to Congressional pressure and backing away from requiring the expensing of options on financial statements, FASB issued a revised standard to recognize stock-option compensation as an expense on income statements. Many in Congress may try to thwart the proposal before it becomes effective. A bill by Representative Richard Baker of Louisiana that would require expensing the cost of stock options for only the top five executives of a company has drawn the support of those groups still resolutely opposed to expensing. This time, however, FASB is likely to prevail. Investors are demanding tougher accounting standards, and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has already passed rules requiring the expensing of options. Many large U.S. corporations have already voluntarily agreed to expense options. Finally, there is more concern about, and less support for, Congressional interference in FASB’s standards-setting process. History of the Debate Accounting for stock options has been one of the most controversial topics in accounting during the last decade. The principal debate is whether compensation expense should be recognized for stock options and, if so, the periods over which it should be allocated. Before...
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...Pandora’s Box? Guillaume Plantin London Business School Haresh Sapra University of Chicago GSB Hyun Song Shin Princeton University August 13, 2007 Abstract Financial institutions have been at the forefront of the debate on the controversial shift in international standards from historical cost accounting to mark-to-market accounting. We show that the trade—o s at stake in this debate are far from one-sided. While the historical cost regime leads to some ine ciencies, marking to market may lead to other types of ine ciencies by injecting artificial risk that degrades the information value of prices, and induces sub—optimal real decisions. We construct a framework that can weigh the pros and cons. We find that the damage done by marking to market is greatest when claims are (i) long—lived, (ii) illiquid, and (iii) senior. These are precisely the attributes of the key balance sheet items of banks and insurance companies. Our results therefore shed light on why banks and insurance companies have been the most vocal opponents of the shift to marking to market. We are grateful to both our editor, Ray Ball, for his advice and comments and to an anonymous referee for many useful comments. We also thank participants at the 2007 Journal of Accounting Research conference as well as participants in various seminars, and, in particular, Doug Diamond, Ron Dye, Xavier Freixas, Milt Harris, Charles Goodhart, Raghu Rajan, Rafael Repullo, Jean-Charles Rochet, and Lars Stole...
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...1. Convergence Project is undertaken by the IASB and the FASB jointly aiming at removing the differences between the two sets of accounting Standards, the GAAP and the IFRS. In other words, the main purpose of the project is to make the accounting standards of both the IASB and the FASB comparable so that there will be a global used accounting standard. (Deegan 2010, p49) This project will make international financial reports more comparable and more helpful for information users. The development of Conceptual Framework is a basic requirement for the changes of accounting standards. With the international convergence of financial framework, a more developed common framework is required to provide a basis for the IASB and the FASB to develop high quality common standards, to eliminate differences between the two sets of standards and to seek to replace weaker standards with stronger standards; Therefore the development of conceptual framework project is a basic need for the conducting of convergence project. In addition, the convergence project will lead professionals to realize the change of information demand and financial system. Because of these changes, the conceptual framework, being developed two decades ago, need to be evolved. (Deegan 2010, p49) Otherwise the current conceptual framework will not be helpful to issue a common set of principle-based standards. (IASB 2005) 2. TT * Limitation to meet current financial environment. The conceptual frameworks of...
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...examines the development of positive accounting theory (PAT) and compares it with three standard accounts of science. There is some confusion about what PAT is. If the definition of accounting theory (i.e., accounting theory seeks to explain and predict accounting and auditing practice) given in Watts and Zimmerman’s 1986 book is taken to mean PAT, studies of accounting choices and auditing practices constitute PAT. At the same time, they also seek to explain the economics-based empirical literature in accounting and they describe, in addition to accounting choice studies, capital market-based accounting research. They point out that Ball and Brown (1968) initially popularized positive research in accounting, suggesting that PAT includes both capital market-based accounting research and research in accounting choices. This paper takes PAT to include both research programs. This usage is consistent with Watts and Zimmerman’s (1986) assertion that when they use the term “positive” to differentiate it from “prescriptive” theory. Positive Accounting Theory and Science by M. Humayun Kabir Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand Abstract This paper examines the development of positive accounting theory (PAT) and compares it with three standard accounts of science: Popper (1959), Kuhn (1996), and Lakatos (1970). PAT has been one of the most influential accounting research programs during the last four...
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