دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی کیفیت اطلاعات حسابداری و تصمیم گیری سودمندی گزارشگری مالی دولتی - امرالد 2017

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an assessment of the decision-usefulness and quality of governmental financial reports in Greece under the recently adopted modified-cash basis. The evaluation is performed within the wider debate regarding the actual benefits of a transition toward an accounting paradigm that lies closer to accrual accounting as the Greek modified-cash basis borrows several accrual characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – The transition to modified accruals is analyzed through the prism of the new institutional theory. The approach adopted builds on the characteristics of the accounting information pertaining to the conceptual frameworks of public and private sector accounting standard setting bodies. The assessment is conducted on the basis of the perceptions of public sector financial information users on a Web-based questionnaire. Findings – The findings provide empirical evidence, albeit of moderate magnitude, in favor of the benefits associated with a move to full accruals. Originality/value – The study moves the debate on the merits of accounting systems’ changes toward the worldwide witnessed trajectory a step forward by providing practical evidence on the matter.

5. Discussion and conclusions

NPFM tools adopted by central governments for accountability and transparency purposes have been brought to the forefront because of the global financial crisis. Isomorphic pressures constitute a catalytic factor that urges countries to move forward toward the adoption of systems that meet these expectations. In this realm, the present paper evaluates the outcome of the adoption of the modified-cash basis of accounting for financial reporting, as an interim step after cash and before accrual accounting implementation, in Greece. The decision of the Greek Government was affected by the globally evident accounting change trends as well as by the strong suggestions made by international organizations. Therefore, mimetic and coercive isomorphism could justify the decisions made. The evaluation is conducted within the wider debate on the actual benefits and costs associated with the move to full accruals. More specifically, in this study, an evaluation of the quality and perceived usefulness of financial reporting at the central government level under the modified-cash basis of accounting is performed. The starting point for this evaluation is the fact that although ambitious reforms take place in the public sector accounting systems, the outcomes might not eventually be the desired ones for the users of the accounting information (Hepworth, 2003; Wynne, 2007). The consideration that the objective of financial reporting in the public sector is to provide information that is useful to users for decision-making and accountability purposes has been used as the benchmark for assessment.