... Number 1—Winter 2010—Pages 93–118 Did Fair-Value Accounting Contribute to the Financial Crisis? Christian Laux and Christian Leuz I n its pure form, fair-value accounting involves reporting assets and liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value and recognizing changes in fair value as gains and losses in the income statement. When market prices are used to determine fair value, fair-value accounting is also called mark-to-market accounting. Some critics argue that fair-value accounting exacerbated the severity of the 2008 financial crisis. The main allegations are that fair-value accounting contributes to excessive leverage in boom periods and leads to excessive write-downs in busts. The write-downs due to falling market prices deplete bank capital and set off a downward spiral, as banks are forced to sell assets at “fire sale” prices, which in turn can lead to contagion as prices from asset fire sales of one bank become relevant for other banks. These arguments are often taken at face value, but evidence on problems created by fair-value accounting is rarely provided. We discuss these arguments and examine descriptive and empirical evidence that sheds light on the role of fair-value accounting for U.S. banks in the crisis. While large losses can clearly cause problems for banks and other financial institutions, the relevant question for our article is whether reporting these losses under fair-value accounting created additional problems. Similarly, it is clear that...
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...Number 1—Winter 2010—Pages 93–118 Did Fair-Value Accounting Contribute to the Financial Crisis? Christian Laux and Christian Leuz I n its pure form, fair-value accounting involves reporting assets and liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value and recognizing changes in fair value as gains and losses in the income statement. When market prices are used to determine fair value, fair-value accounting is also called mark-to-market accounting. Some critics argue that fair-value accounting exacerbated the severity of the 2008 financial crisis. The main allegations are that fair-value accounting contributes to excessive leverage in boom periods and leads to excessive write-downs in busts. The write-downs due to falling market prices deplete bank capital and set off a downward spiral, as banks are forced to sell assets at “fire sale” prices, which in turn can lead to contagion as prices from asset fire sales of one bank become relevant for other banks. These arguments are often taken at face value, but evidence on problems created by fair-value accounting is rarely provided. We discuss these arguments and examine descriptive and empirical evidence that sheds light on the role of fair-value accounting for U.S. banks in the crisis. While large losses can clearly cause problems for banks and other financial institutions, the relevant question for our article is whether reporting these losses under fair-value accounting created additional problems. Similarly, it is...
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...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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...Introduction Managerial accounting is concerned with providing information to managers- that is, to those who are inside an organization and who direct and control its operations. Managerial accounting can be contrasted with financial accounting, which is concerned with providing information to stockholders, creditors and others who are outside an organization (Garrison and Noreen, 1999). Managerial accounting information includes: * Information on the costs of an organization’s products and services. For Example, managers can use product costs to guide the setting of selling prices. In addition, these product costs are used for inventory valuation and income determination (Horngren and Foster, pp. 2). * Budgets: A budget is a quantitative expression of a plan. * Performance reports: These reports often consist of comparisons of budgets with actual results. The deviations of actual results from budget are called variances (Horngren and Foster, pp. 3) * Other information which assist managers in their planning and control activities. Examples are information on revenues of an organization’s products and services, sales back logs, unit quantities and demands on capacity resources (Kaplan and Atkinson, pp. 1). Managerial Accounting Practices around the World Traditional managerial accounting systems are mainly designed to measure the efficiency of internal processes. In the 1980’s, traditional managerial accounting practitioners were heavily criticized...
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...THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON ACCOUNTING SYSTEM A CASE STUDY OF FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC MAKURDI ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of information technology on accounting system. The researcher has done this research using primary and secondary sources of data thereby adopting the questionnaire method and personal interview as a data collection technique. The statistical tool adopted in testing hypothesis was analyzed using chi-square. The major findings of this research revealed that, the positive impact of information technology outweighs the negative impact and both banks and customers benefit from it. Fraud is a major problem associated with information technology as it is on the increase by the day. The research recommended that, Government should improve the electricity supply in the country; they should support local IT firms by providing loans, and lowering tariffs with a view to encouraging them in carrying out their activities. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Tittle page - - - - - - - - i Approval page - - - - - - - - ii Declaration - - - - - - - - iii Acknowledgement - - - - - - - iv Dedication - - - - - - - - v Abstract - - - - - - - - vi Table of contents - - - - - - - vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the study - - - - - 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem. - - - - 2 1.3 Objectives of the study. - - -...
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...May 2010 Forthcoming, European Accounting Review, 2010 We appreciate comments from seminar participants at the Bank of Spain, Rob Bloomfield, Elicia Cowins, Hilary Eastman, Gavin Francis, Christian Kusi-Yeboah, Jim Leisenring, Martien Lubberink, Richard Rendleman, David Tweedie, and an anonymous reviewer. We acknowledge funding from the Center for Finance and Accounting Research at UNC-Chapel Hill and the Stanford Graduate School of Business Center for Global Business and the Economy. Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1601519 How did Financial Reporting Contribute to the Financial Crisis? Abstract We scrutinize the role financial reporting for fair values, asset securitizations, derivatives, and loan loss provisioning played in the Financial Crisis. Because banks were at the center of the Financial Crisis, we focus our discussion and analysis on the effects of financial reporting by banks. We conclude fair value accounting played little or no role in the Financial Crisis. However, transparency of information associated with asset securitizations and derivatives likely was insufficient for investors to assess properly the values and riskiness of bank assets and liabilities. Although the FASB and IASB have taken laudable steps to improve disclosures relating to asset securitizations, in our view, the approach for accounting for securitizations in the IASB’s Exposure Draft that would require banks to recognize whatever assets and liabilities...
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...University , Stanford, CA, USA b Kenan–Flagler Business School , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, NC, USA Published online: 07 Jul 2010. To cite this article: Mary E. Barth & Wayne R. Landsman (2010) How did Financial Reporting Contribute to the Financial Crisis?, European Accounting Review, 19:3, 399-423, DOI: 10.1080/09638180.2010.498619 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638180.2010.498619 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution...
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...Current financial statements of financial institutions are combinations of values derived from fair-value, cost-basis, depreciation, amortisation, impairment and other accounting standards. During the past two decades, there has been considerable interest in the reporting by financial institutions of the fair values of their financial instruments either as complements or substitutes for historical book value. The generally accepted accounting definition of “fair value” is based on the rule FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157). FAS 157 outlines a hierarchy of inputs to derive fair value of an asset or liability. When quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are available, they have to be used as the measurement for fair value (Level 1 inputs). If not, Level 2 or Level 3 inputs should be used. Level 2 applies to cases for which there are observable inputs, which includes quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices from identical or similar assets in inactive markets, and other relevant market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs, typically model assumptions, and can be used if observable inputs are not available. Arguments for Fair Value Accounting (FVA) Firstly, FVA provides the most relevant information for financial decision-making. This allows investors as a group have to get a better understanding of what the volatility means since they want to live in a perfect world and would...
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...PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING Higher 2 (2016) (Syllabus 9755) CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 2 AIMS 2 ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES 2 SPECIFICATION GRID 2 SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT 3 SYLLABUS OUTLINE 3 SYLLABUS CONTENT 5 SUMMARY OF COMMONLY USED RATIOS 15 RESOURCES 16 Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board MOE & UCLES 2014 1 9755 H2 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING (2016) INTRODUCTION Principles of Accounting aims to provide candidates with a foundation course in accounting at a breadth and depth appropriate to the A Level. It is designed to provide candidates with a sound understanding of financial and managerial accounting procedures and an appreciation of its role in society. The teaching approach emphasises the broad educational aspects of the subject rather than one which is vocational or professional in nature. There is no requirement to learn the published accounting standards. Prior knowledge is not necessary for students offering this syllabus. It is not the intent of this syllabus to be a pre-requisite for any business-related courses. AIMS 1. Develop an understanding of the concepts, principles and practices of accounting and the ability to apply them in a variety of business and personal situations; 2. Develop an understanding of the role of accounting as an information system for monitoring, problemsolving and decision-making in changing economic, social and technological environments; 3. Develop a critical approach to analysing and evaluating accounting policies...
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...financial accounting Financial accounting is a specific type of accounting that is used by businesses to prepare reports on the finances of a firm for people outside the organization, such as stockholders or government agencies. It is governed by specific accounting standards to insure uniformity in reporting. What Is Financial Accounting? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4710004_what-financial-accounting.html#ixzz29jbLZGeI http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financialaccounting.asp#axzz29okOfFVw ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Major objectives of fa http://www.ehow.com/info_8131759_objectives-financial-accounting.html The objective of financial accounting is to provide information to the end user http://www.blurtit.com/q288083.html Objective of Financial Accounting (FA): The objective of financial accounting is to collect accurate, systematic, and timely financial data and other financial information, and to compile and consolidate it in an organized and systematic way, according to the principles and rules of accounting, for reporting purpose. The financial managers use these reports to assess the financial position of the company through various financial management tools and then the financial position can be compared to, or benchmarked against, the industry norms. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_objectives_of_financial_accounting The purpose of accounting can be...
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...THE NATION’S NEWSPAPER BS2003-01a Collegiate Case Study Enron law firm called accounting practices 'creative' By Greg Farrell www.usatodaycollege.com Accounting fraud Part I: The problems “Creative accounting” is not a new technique, but it can certainly be a costly one. Businesses feel the pressure to appear profitable in order to attract investors and resources, but deceptive or fraudulent accounting practices often lead to drastic consequences. Are these so-called creative practices always illegal or can they ever be justified? This case study will present examples of companies who have used inappropriate accounting practices, the results of their deceptions and the government's plan to avoid future incidents. Did banks play role in Enron scandal? By Edward Iwata Banks face accusations in Enron case By Edward Iwata Banks defend e-mail about Enron By Edward Iwata WorldCom finds accounting fraud By Andrew Backover, Thor Vladmanis, Matt Kranz and Michelle Kessler Former controller comes up more often By Andrew Backover and Chris Woodyard Cover story WorldCom’s bad math may date back to 1999 By Jayne O’Donnell and Andrew Backover CFOs join their bosses on the hot seat By Jim Hopkins Capitalizing on oldest trick in book How WorldCom, and others, fudged results By Matt Krantz USA TODAY WorldCom's accounting game is stunning investors who thought the loophole the telecom firm used was sewn shut years ago. Bros. "How was this overlooked...
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...Section A: Fundamentals of Accounting (60 Marks) 1. Theoretical Framework: (i) Meaning and Scope of Accounting, (ii) Accounting Concepts, Principles and Conventions, (iii) Accounting Standard – concepts, objectives, benefits, (iv) Accounting Policies and (v) Accounting as a measurement discipline – valuation principles, accounting estimates. 2. Accounting Process: Books of Accounts leading to the preparation of Trial Balance, Capital and revenue expenditure, Capital and revenue receipts, Contingent assets and contingent liabilities, Fundamental errors including rectifications thereof. 3. Bank reconciliation Statement. 4. Inventories: Basis of inventory valuation and record keeping. 5. Depreciation Accounting: Methods, computation and accounting treatment of depreciation, Change in depreciation methods. 6. Preparation of Final Accounts for Sole Proprietors. 7. Accounting for Special Transactions: (a) Consignments, (b) Joint Ventures, (c) Bills of exchange and promissory notes, (d) Sale of goods on approval or return basis. 8. Partnership Accounts: Final accounts of partnership firms – Basic concepts of admission, retirement and death of a partner including treatment of goodwill. 9. Introduction to Company Accounts: Issue of shares and debentures, forfeiture of shares, re-issue of forfeited shares, redemption of preference shares. Section B: Mercantile Law (40 Marks) 1. The Indian Contract Act, 1872: An overview of Sections 1 to 75 covering the general nature of contract...
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...FICO: SAP FICO Stands for FI (Financial Accounting) and CO (Controlling). SAP FICO is the important module of ERP and both FI and CO modules stores the financial transactions data. ◾SAP FI is the important module of all SAP implementations ◾SAP FI (Financial Accounting) is used for external reporting i.e. Balance sheet, Profit and Loss statements ◾SAP FICO Module integrates with various other SAP Modules such as MM (Materials Management), SD (Sales and Distribution), PP (Production Planning), PM (Plant Maintenance), and PS (Project Systems). ◾SAP FI (Financial Accounting) Module receives postings from various other modules such as Materials Management, Sales and Distribution, Human Resource) through integration. ◾All accounting-relevant transactions which are made in Logistics (LO) are posted real-time to Financial Accounting by automatic account determination. This data can also be passed on to Controlling (CO). SAP FI Modules contains the following sub-modules ◾General Ledger accounting ◾Accounts Receivables ◾Accounts Payable ◾Asset Accounting ◾Bank Accounting ◾Consolidation ◾Special Purpose Ledger ◾Travel Management General Ledger Accounting: - The general ledger accounting is to provide a complete report for external and internal accounting i.e. Accounts, Journals, Monthly debits and Credit, Balance sheet and Recording all business transactions. Accounts Payable: - The Accounts Payable records and manages all accounting data related to vendors Accounts Receivable:...
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...Note: This Introduction appears in Christopher Napier & Roszaini Haniffa (eds) Islamic Accounting (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2011), pp. xiii-xx. The printed version may differ slightly from the text set out below, and the printed version should be regarded as definitive. An Islamic Perspective of Accounting: Introduction and Overview Christopher Napier and Roszaini Haniffa Introduction The emergence of Islamic banks and other Islamic financial institutions since the 1970s has stimulated a modern literature that has identified itself as addressing “Islamic Accounting”. What does the term “Islamic Accounting” mean in the rapidly growing contemporary literature? Napier (2009) has proposed three interrelated aspects: a historically-oriented sense, in which “Islamic Accounting” refers to ideas and practices in Muslim-majority countries in past periods; a practice-oriented sense, where the focus is on how entities describing themselves as “Islamic” account for and report their transactions and activities; and a principle-oriented sense, where fundamental accounting concepts and methods form a coherent body of ideas and practices based on the religion of Islam. The word “Islam” means total submission or surrender to the will of God (Allah), and a Muslim is one who so submits. However, this raises the question of how Muslims can determine what the will of God is. The principal sources are the Qur’an, which is considered by Muslims to be the exact words of revelation from...
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...Islamic banks: evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council countries Abdullah Awadh Bukair and Azhar Abdul Rahman Abstract Corporate social activities have become major subjects because of their effects on the quality life of citizens, in particular, and on the society at large. Therefore, today, there is an increase awareness of social responsibility due to the challenges meeting the financial institutions (particularly, Islamic banking) around the world. This paper examines the influence of the board of directors’ characteristics, consisting of board size, board composition, and the separation roles of CEO and chairman, on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in 53 annual reports of Islamic banks of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries after controlling of bank size, financial performance and relevant public. Based on the framework of legitimacy theory, the findings show that CSR disclosure has a negative and insignificant relationship with board composition. On contrast, the study found insignificantly and positive association between CSR disclosure and other characteristics of board of directors (board size and the separation roles of CEO and chairman). With regards control variables, the study indicates that bank size and financial performance have a positive and significant influence on CSR disclosure, while relevant public has no effect. Therefore, the results indicate that corporate governance structure of board of directors within Islamic banks of GCC region...
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