The Effect of IPSAS on Reforming Governmental Financial Reporting: an International Comparison

Johan Christiaens, C. Vanhee (), F. Manes-Rossi and N. Aversano
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N. Aversano: -

Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium from Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Abstract: Over the past 25 years significant New Public Management (NPM) reforms, particularly towards accrual accounting, have characterized the public sector in many countries. The diversity in public financial information systems created a need for harmonization, resulting in the elaboration of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). Despite their relevance, little is known on the adoption process of IPSAS. This study aims to examine to what extent IPSAS-inspired accrual accounting is adopted in central / local governments worldwide as well as to investigate which factors affect the differing level of their adoption. Methodologically, a specific questionnaire constructed to obtain relevant information from local experts was sent worldwide to a sample of countries. The study reveals an important move to accrual accounting, particularly to IPSAS-accrual accounting whereby there still remains a level of reluctance mainly in central governments, especially in countries where businesslike accrual accounting has been developed.

Keywords: Comparative public accounting; IPSAS; local government; central government accounting reform (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 20 pages
Date: 2013-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-acc and nep-nps
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rug:rugwps:13/845

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