...Synopsis Positive accounting theory is perceived as a hypothetical study in accounting which helps in clarifying and foreseeing tangible accounting procedures. These theories have a tendency to rationalize why a number of accounting practices are accepted than others. Positive accounting theory was introduced to better apprehend exactly how practices in accounting must be effectively managed. Introduction Modern positive accounting research began flourishing in the 1960’s and other introduce empirical finance method to financial accounting. The subsequent literature adopted the assumption that accounting number supply information for security market investment decision and used the information perspective to investigate the relation between accounting number and stack prices. The information perspective has taught us much about the market’s use of accounting numbers. It was structured as an educational thought of discipline by the efforts of Ross Watts and Jerold Zimmerman which when made known were received with extensive criticism. Summary of the Article Positive accounting can be related with the predetermined opinion of a firm. A firm is regarded as a conception initiative put forth by a number of economists and legal commentators which stresses that corporations are nothing more than a compilation of agreements concerning different parties – mostly shareholders, directors, employees, suppliers, customers and accounting – one tool to expedite the materialization...
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...Critical Perspectives on Accounting (1996) 7 , 409 – 435 RECONSIDERING THE ‘‘SOCIAL’’ IN POSITIVE ACCOUNTING THEORY: THE CASE OF SITE RESTORATION COSTS DEAN NEU AND CYNTHIA SIMMONS University of Calgary This paper seeks to challenge the hegemony of positive accounting theory explanations of managerial behaviour. We argue that the decontextualized perspective of positive accounting theory is limiting and that changing the perspective offers a more complete explanation of behaviour. Starting from the notion of social relations developed by Marx, we reinterpret positive theory variables as proxies for a subset of the social relations in which managers are embedded. From this perspective, a more inclusive explanation of behaviour can be obtained by considering the entire web of social relations that influence behaviour. To demonstrate the ‘‘cash value’’ of a social relations perspective, accounting for site restoration costs is used as an illustration. The results are consistent with a broad social relations perspective. ÷ 1996 Academic Press Limited Introduction ‘‘[I]t is clear there is a relation between firm’s accounting choice and other firm variables, such as leverage and size and the signs of the relations are mostly consistent across studies. Positive accounting research guided the search for empirical regularities and provided explanations for them. To date, there are no systematic alternative sets of explanations for those regularities articulated and tested...
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...It is implied by the positive accounting theory that managers base decisions based on personal or organizational objectives such as higher compensation or increased implementation of corporate governance procedures (Mattessich 2007). The two standard setting bodies try to implement policies in order to ensure better reliability and transparency of financial statements relevant to specific managers applying these standards. The two bodies set standards to improve accounting practice in their respective regions so they act on improving areas of corporate governance. Decision usefulness deals with the process of decision making based on accounting theories, concepts and principles. This theory involves the development of procedures that can be applied to make decisions in a useful manner (Cyert and DeGroot 1987). The standards proposed by both standard setting bodies entail a thorough process and involve significant research to make standards more useful to accountants, investors, shareholders and other users of financial statements in the decision making process. The moral hazards in accounting are concerned with risks between two parties when one party is not willing to work honestly or in a trustworthy manner (Wessels 2006). If any of the standard setting bodies does not want to apply same techniques and strategies in issuing standards then the other board is subject to moral hazards or risks. Measurement approaches deal with measurement of several items based on hypothetical...
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...The role of positive accounting theory. PAT has been the most significant accounting research agendas during the past four decades (Kabir). Before the arrival of PAT, normative accounting research had been the leading research tradition in accounting. Normative accounting theorists concentrated in developing accounting principles for recognition and measurement issues. In contrast with normative accounting theory which deals with “should” kind questions, PAT deals with “is” kind questions. According to Watts and Zimmerman “the objective of positive accounting theory is to explain and predict accounting practice. It explains why financial reports are prepared. Positive accounting theorists have explained the accounting practices by including the measures accountants employ to calculate total assets, total liabilities, owners' equity and net income. Moreover, they also claim that positive accounting theory provides a scientific explanations of accounting practice that is that their findings are empirically test. PAT also examines the effects of accounting standards on management’s self-interest hence PAT recognizes management biased attitude on accounting standards which are likely to affect corporates lobbying on accounting standards. Pat also identifies certain factors that are expected to affect a firms cash flows and share price .These factors are taxes, political costs and information production and management compensation. PAT theoretically played its role in examining...
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...136 Positive Accounting Theory and Science JCC Journal of CENTRUM Cathedra ™ 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 decades. One important reason which Watts & Zimmerman (1986) have used to popularize and legitimize their approach is that their view of accounting theory is the same as that used in science. Thus, it is important to examine how far accounting has been successful in imitating natural science and how the development of PAT compares with the three standard accounts of science. This paper shows that accounting could not emulate the success of natural science. Further, the methodological positions of PAT conform to none of the standard accounts of science. Rather, PAT contains elements of all three. Finally, this paper identifies some methodological gaps in PAT. Keywords: Positive Accounting Theory, Philosophy of Science, Methodological Controversies Acknowledgements I would like to thank two anonymous reviewers of the journal for their helpful comments. Earlier versions of this paper benefited from comments from Lee Parker of the University of South Australia, Keith...
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...Financial Accounting Theory Chapter 8 – Summary The Positive Theory of Accounting 1. Outline In the text, Scott defines Positive accounting theory (PAT) as: “concerned with predicting such actions as the choices of accounting policies by firms and how firms will respond to proposed new accounting standards.” (263) PAT uses theory to predict the choices that management will make regarding their choice of accounting policies. This theory is introduced as a way to merge efficient securities markets with economic consequences. PAT takes the view that firms will conduct themselves in the way that maximizes their own best interests. Managers do not always do what is best for shareholders, but what will be the most beneficial to their organization. The choices that an organization makes are dependant on what industry they are in, and the factors within that industry. An organization can be portrayed by the contracts it enters into. A firm’s contracts with employees, suppliers, lenders, and shareholders are central to its operations. The organization is inclined to keep these contract costs as low as possible. PAT emphasizes that an organization’s choice of accounting policies is motivated by keeping contract costs down. PAT does not propose that organizations completely identify what accounting policies they will use. Such specification is costly to commit to, and does not give management the opportunity to respond to unforeseen circumstances. ...
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...Chapter 7 - Positive Theory Positive Accounting Theory Philosophy of PAT Million Friedman championed positive theories in economics. He stated that: (part 3 Empirical Research in Accounts of Accounting theory from Jayne Godfrey) The ultimate goal of positive science (i.e. INDUCTIVE) is • The development of a ‘theory ‘ or ‘hypothesis’; • that yields valid and meaningful “Predictions’ • about phenomena not yet “observed”. Consistent with Friedman’s view, Watts and Zimmerman asserts that: The objective of “positive accounting theory” is to “explain” and “predict” accounting practice. • “Explanation” means providing reasons for observed practice. For example, positive accounting theory seeks to explain why firms continue to use historical cost accounting and why certain firms switch between a numbers of accounting techniques. • “Prediction” of accounting practice means that the theory predicts “unobserved phenomena”. Watts and Zimmerman start their book with a fundamental statement of The Role of Theory (Chapter 1).They asserts that the objective of positive accounting theory is to explain and predict accounting practice,(p.2) “Unobserved phenomena” are not necessarily future phenomena; they include phenomena that have occurred, but on which systematic evidence has not been collected. For example – Predicting the reaction of firms to a proposed accounting standard and an explanation of why firms would lobby for and against...
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...Positive Accounting Theory: A Ten Year Perspective Ross L. Watts and Jerold L. Zimmerman University of Rochester ABSTRACT: This paper reviews and critiques the positive accounting literature following publication of Watts and Zimmerman (1978, 1979). The 1978 paper helped generate the positive accounting literature which offers an explanation of accounting practice, suggests the importance of contracting costs, and has led to the discovery of some previously unknown empirical regularities. The 1979 paper produced a methodological debate that has not been very productive. This paper attempts to remove some common misconceptions about methodology that surfaced in the debate. It also suggests ways to improve positive research in accounting choice. The most important of these improvements is tighter links between the theory and the empirical tests. A second suggested improvement is the development of models that recognize the endogeneity among the variables in the regressions. A third improvement is reduction in measurement errors in both the dependent and independent variables in the regressions. I T is more than a decade since our two papers, "Towards a Positive Theory of the Determination of Accounting Standards" and "The Demand for and Supply of Accounting Theories: The Market for Excuses" were published in The Accounting Review. The intervening time allows us to look back on these papers and the ensuing literature with some perspective. The two papers were...
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...the accounting literature of the past decade" (1989, p. 327). They are also the joint founder-editors of The Journal of Accounting and Economics, a journal devoted to positive accounting research, which has achieved an international reputation. So their story, while admittedly controversial, has achieved credibility among a significant number of accounting researchers. But what accounts for that credibility? According to Watts and Zimmerman's (1986) view of science, a theory's credibility will ultimately be a function of explanatory power and predictive capability: "Ultimately the users, who assess alternative explanations' intuitive appeal and bear the costs and benefits of theories' predictions, will determine the success of the theory outlined in this book" (p. 355). And a theory, in their conception, consists of: the assumptions, including the definitions of variables and the logic that relates them, and the set of substantive hypotheses" (1986, p. 9). And since the hypotheses of a theory bear the brunt of empirical testing, the primary concern of the empirical testing of PAT is whether or not the hypotheses can predict accounting practice. Prediction of accounting practice means that the theory predicts unobserved accounting phenomena" (1986, p. 2). More concretely, they mean that PAT can be used to predict which accounting procedures will be chosen by management when management faces a "portfolio" of accepted accounting procedures from which to choose. In Positive Accounting...
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...7.14 What are some of the criticisms of PAT? Do you agree with them? Why or why not? Positive Accounting Theory (PAT) ▪ The branch of academic research in accounting that seeks to explain and predict actual accounting practices. ▪ Watts and Zimmerman: o PAT is concerned with explaining accounting practice. It is designed to explain and predict which firms will and which firms will not use a particular method…but it says nothing as to which method a firm should use. ▪ Explain why firms still use historic cost accounting, why certain firm switch between a numbers of accounting techniques. Criticisms of PAT ▪ Does NOT provide prescription o Not providing a means of improving accounting practice. o No guidance as to what people should do ▪ Not value free o Selecting a theory to adopt for research is based on a value judgement; what to research is a value judgement; ▪ Fundamental assumption that all action is driven by self interest argued to be too negative and simplistic a perspective humankind o All action is driven by a desire to maximise one’s wealth. o Rational behaviour of human ▪ Addressed issues have not shown great development o Continue to be tested in different environments and in relation to different accounting policies o The debt hypothesis o The bonus hypothesis o The political cost hypothesis ▪ Measurements or proxies being used within the literature are...
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...The Positive Theory of Accounting Outline In the text, Scott defines Positive accounting theory (PAT) as: “concerned with predicting such actions as the choices of accounting policies by firms and how firms will respond to proposed new accounting standards.” (263) PAT uses theory to predict the choices that management will make regarding their choice of accounting policies. This theory is introduced as a way to merge efficient securities markets with economic consequences. PAT takes the view that firms will conduct themselves in the way that maximizes their own best interests. Managers do not always do what is best for shareholders, but what will be the most beneficial to their organization. The choices that an organization makes are dependent on what industry they are in, and the factors within that industry An organization can be portrayed by the contracts it enters into. A firm’s contracts with employees, suppliers, lenders, and shareholders are central to its operations. The organization is inclined to keep these contract costs as low as possible. PAT emphasizes that an organization’s choice of accounting policies is motivated by keeping contract costs down. PAT does not propose that organizations completely identify what accounting policies they will use. Such specification is costly to commit to, and does not give management the opportunity to respond to unforeseen circumstances. Managers have flexibility to choose from a set of accounting policies, and...
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...Qualitative characteristics in accounting disclosures: a desirability trade-off Malcolm Smith Associate Professor of Accounting, School of Economics and Commerce, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia A number of studies in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada have addressed the evaluation of the usefulness of accounting information and sought to identify criteria for assessing the quality and utility of financial reports (e.g. Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (1975), Financial Accounting Standards Board (1980), Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland (1988), Accounting Standards Board (1991)). The qualitative characteristics viewed as desirable for the fulfilment of the fundamental objective of communicating decision-useful measurement recognize that all of these characteristics are not simultaneously achievable and that some trade-off is necessary. Examines the nature of this conflict of objectives and attempts to quantify the extent of the conflict for different user groups. Introduction Since the late 1960s research efforts regarding a conceptual framework have been commissioned in response to mounting public and professional pressure with regard to the nature of corporate reporting and deficiencies in the accounting standard setting process. Peasnell[1, p. 254] with respect to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) conceptual framework observes: “it perceives a need to show that its heart and mind are in the right place: to demonstrate...
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...POSITIVE ACCOUNTING THEORY, POLITICAL COSTS AND SOCIAL DISCLOSURE ANALYSES: A CRITICAL LOOK Markus J. Milne Accountancy and Business Law University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand Ph: 64-3-479-8120 Fax: 64-3-479-8450 Email: mmilne@commerce.otago.ac.nz POSITIVE ACCOUNTING THEORY, POLITICAL COSTS AND SOCIAL DISCLOSURE ANALYSES: A CRITICAL LOOK* ABSTRACT This paper critically reviews the literature seeking to establish evidence for a positive accounting theory of corporate social disclosures. It carefully traces through the original work of Watts and Zimmerman (1978) showing their concern with the lobbying behaviour of large US oil companies during the 1970s. Such companies were argued to be abusing monopolists and likely targets of selfinterested politicians pursuing wealth transfers in the form of taxes, regulations and other ‘political costs’. Watts and Zimmerman’s reference to “social responsibility” is shown to be a passing remark, and most likely refers to “advocacy advertising”, a widespread practice amongst large US oil companies at that time. Subsequent literature that relies on Watts and Zimmerman to present a case for social disclosures is shown to extend their original arguments. In the process, concern over the “high profits” of companies is shown to diminish, and the notion of political costs is so broadened that it blurs with other social theories of disclosure. Consequently, the positive accounting based social disclosures literature fails to provide distinct...
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...DETERMINANTS OF DIFFERENT ACCOUNTING METHODS CHOICE IN TANZANIA : A POSITIVE ACCOUNTING THEORY APPROACH Objectives: • The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the choice of accounting policies by managers of companies in Tanzania. • These studies also examine the number of factors that influence the managers’ incentives for accounting choice. Population/ sample size: The study investigates managers’ decisions to choose accounting methods in a positive accounting theory perspective using panel data covering 60 years from 15 companies listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. Research Methods: • Sample and data source: used quantitative methods to examine the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables. The data are drawn from annual reports of 15 companies listed on DSE for four years which resulted in 60 firm years. • Income strategy measurement: consider a company’s set of accounting choices that are disclosed in the company’s annual report as a single comprehensive decision. • Model specification: INCOME STRATEGY = α0 + α1 LEVER + α2 SIZE + α3 LABFORCE – α4 ODILUTION + α5 INTERFIN + α6 PROPNED + ε Findings: The results show that the significant factors are company size, internal financing, proportion of non-executive directors and labor force. Different with the outcome of prior studies, the authors found that the company size and internal financing are positively related with income strategy. So the research...
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...Introduction 2 Summary of the Article 2 Overview of Positive Accounting 2 Research Question 3 Theoretical Framework: 3 The Significance and Limitations of the Article: 4 Findings of Article 4 Conclusions 5 Bibliography 5 References 6 Introduction The main purpose of this report is to focus the positive accounting theory “Towards a Positive Theory of the Determination of Accounting Standards” and written by (Watts & Zimmerman, 1978) Ross L. Watts and Jerold L. Zimmerman, who indicated with a number of significant research in order to describe and contribute positive accounting theory Summary of the Article The element of this article has found that management wealth are based on accounting standards such as cost of production, (purchase, labour and overhead) taxes, political influence. All of these elements are effect in a different way on the management benefits. One of the main points of this article is that earning policy which means (decreasing profit or increasing profit) affects the company size, reputation of entities and certain standards. As a result of this development, management of the organization wealth will increase in a positive way. It is definitely clear to say that (Watts & Zimmerman, 1978) used solid data from the entities, which produce information to the FASB's Discussion Memorandum on General Price Level Adjustment. Findings of this report include to "choose accounting standards which report lower earnings due to political...
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