Examining the status of IPSAS adoption at the country level: an analysis of the OECD member states

Michalis Bekiaris and Thekla Paraponti

Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 296-325

Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the adoption status of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member states at the country level and highlight the main factors impeding the process of accounting harmonisation. Design/methodology/approach - This study uses factor analysis (FA) to assess the status of IPSAS adoption as the weighted average of the adoption levels of three categories: central government, sub-national governments, and country-level consolidation. Based on this assessment, the sample is classified into three levels of IPSAS adoption: high, medium, and low. Findings - The findings suggest a slow trend towards accounting harmonisation and an increasing influence of IPSAS. However, evidence also suggests significant limitations in the adoption of the standards, mainly attributed to national adaptations, which undermine the ongoing efforts for standardisation. Originality/value - This study provides an integrated view of IPSAS adoption at the country level and sheds light on a different aspect of the international harmonisation process, which is missing from the literature.

Keywords: Accrual accounting; IPSAS adoption; Accounting standardisation; Accounting harmonisation; Public sector accounting reforms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:jaocpp:jaoc-02-2021-0023

DOI: 10.1108/JAOC-02-2021-0023

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