Purpose - This study provides evidence of the impact of the mandatory adoption of Korean equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (K-IFRS) on accounting quality. K-IFRS uses fair value as a basis of measurement and is characterized by principle-based standards. These characteristics can lead to a decrease in conservatism. Therefore, this study aims to examine whether or not there is a change in the level of conservatism before and after the enforcement of K-IFRS (2007~2014). By comparing 2007 through 2008 and 2013 through 2014 (excluding 2009 to 2012), we test "the temporary adjustment phenomenon" and document an overall decline in the degree of conservatism after the adoption of K-IFRS. Research design, data, and methodology - Our sample is comprised of data of all listed Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) manufacturing distribution companies in Korea from 2007 to 2014, which yields the pooled sample of 4,412 (panel A) and 1,915 (panel B) firm-year observations for hypotheses 1 and 2. In line with recent literature, we adopt the Givoly and Hayn (2000) model, which recomputes the non-operating accruals, excluding two components that are most likely to capture the effect of restructuring activities: special items and gains or losses from discontinued operations. In addition, we also use these variables: SIZE, LEV, INV_CYCLE, ROA, OWN, and FOR. Results - Our sample period spans 2007 to 2014. This offers evidence on the effect of the mandatory adoption of IFRS on conservatism. Our findings can be summarized as follows. First, in panel A, for mandatory K-IFRS adoption (2011), we do not find any significant evidence of conservatism. We can guess that the "temporary adjustment phenomenon" is the reason that we do not find significant evidence of conservatism. Second, we investigate panel B from 2009 to 2012. We document an overall decline in the degree of conservatism after the adoption of K-IFRS. We can assume that these results are due to "the temporary adjustment phenomenon." Conclusions - This study finds that conservatism significantly decreased after IFRS adoption. In particular, this study makes the initial effort to elucidate "the temporary adjustment phenomenon" to analyze the effect of K-IFRS on conservative accounting. We argue that K-IFRS are conceptually conservative but that inappropriate application of the conservatism principles is likely to prevent financial reporting from reaching the level of conservatism targeted by the IASB. Overall, this paper contributes to the literature on IFRS and can be useful to capital market supervisors who are monitoring the trends of the firms implementing K-IFRS. Additionally, our results inform stakeholders of the potentially negative effect of the greater flexibility permitted by IFRS and/or lack of appropriate enforcement on key dimensions of accounting quality. This has important implications for Korean regulators and standard setters as they review the cost and benefits of IFRS. Our study also sheds light on the importance of the institutional environment in achieving the targeted objectives for improving financial reporting quality.
Ahmed, A., & Duellman, S. (2013). Managerial Overconfidence and Accounting Conservatism. Journal of Accounting Research, 51(1), 1-30
Alexander, D., & Archer, S. (2001). European accounting guide(4th ed). NY: Aspen Law & Business Gaithersbury.
Andre, P., Filip, A., & Paugam, L. (2013). Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Conditional Conservatism in Europe. Working paper, ESSEC Business School.
Ball, R., Kothari, S., P., & Robin, A. (2000). The effect of international institutional factors on properties of accounting earngs. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 29, 1-51
Barth, M. E., Lansman, W. R., & Lang, M. H. (2008). International Accounting Standards and Accounting Quality. Journal of Accounting Research, 46(3), 467-498
Basu, S. (1997). The Conservatism Principle and the Asymmetric Timeliness of Earnings. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 24, 3-37
Beaver, W., & Ryan, S. (2000). Biases and Lags in Book Value and Their Effects on the Ability of the Book-to-Market Ratio to Predict Book Return on Equity. Journal of Accounting Research, 38, 127-148
Choi, Hyun-dol, & Yoon, Jae-won (2006). The Effects of Corporate Governance on Conservativeness of Accounting Information. Korean Accounting Review, 31(4), 145-174
Choi, Kwan, & Jeon, Sung-il (2005). Korean Economic Crisis and Conservative Accounting. Korean Accounting Review, 30(3), 215-242
Coopers, & Lybrand (1993). International accounting summaries:A guide for international and comparison(2nd ed). Wiley. NY
Feltham, J., & Ohlson, J. (1995). Valuation and Clean Surplus for Operating and Financial Activities. Contemporary Accounting Research, 11, 689-731
Givoly, D., & Hayn, C. (2000). The Change Time-series Properties, Cash Flows and Accurals : Has Financial Reporting Become More Conservative?. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 29, 287-320
Hellman, N. (2008). Accounting conservatism under IFRS. Accounting in Europe, 5, 71-100
Hung, M., & Subramanyam, K. (2007). Financial statement effects of adopting International Accounting Standards :The case of Germany. Review of Accounting Studies, 12(4), 623-657
Kang, Joo-hun (2010). Corporate Governance and Conservative Accounting. The Korean Academy of Business Historians, 54, 197-213
Kang, Min-jung, Lee, Ho-Young, & Lee, Kyoung-Hwa (2012). The Impact of IFRS Adoption on Accounting Conservatism: Analysis of the Firms Applying IFRS Early. Korean Accounting Review, 37(2), 237-278
Khan, M., & Watts, R. L. (2009). Estimation and Empirical Properties of a Firm-Year Measure of Accounting Conservatism. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 48(2-3), 132-150
Kim, Myung-in, Jeong, Min-gyung, & Sonu, Catherine Heyjung (2013). The Effect of Abnormal Audit Fees and Non-Audit Fees on Acounting Conservatism – Focusing on the Model of Khan and Watts(2009). Korea international Accounting Review, 49, 173-200
Lee, Kyun-bong, Ryu, Ye-rin, & Ji, Sang-hyun (2012). The effect of the Investor Relation on Conservatism in Accounting. Korea international Accounting Review, 44, 109-134
Lee, You-sik, & Hong, Jung-hwa (2013). A Study on the K-IFRS Adoption and Quality of Earnings : Comparing the Early & the Mandatory K-IFRS Adoption Corporation. Korea international Accounting Review, 47, 197-228
Paek, Won-sun, & Lee, Soo-ro (2004). Conservatism, Earnings Persistence and Equity Valuation. Korean Accounting Review, 29(1), 1-27
Penman, S. (2001). Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation. NY: McGraw-Hill.
Piot, C., Dumontier, P., & Janin, R. (2011). IFRS Consequences on Accounting Conservatism within Europe: The Role of Big 4 Auditors. Working paper, University of Grenoble and CERAG-CNRS
Watts, R. L. (2003). Conservatism in Accounting PartⅠ :Explanations and Implications. Accounting Horizons, 17(3), 207-221
Yun, Jung-boon, & Kim, Sung-hwan (2013). The Effect of IFRS Adoption on Conservatism : Comparison between Voluntary Adoption and Mandatory Adoption. Korean Journal of Accounting Research, 18(4), 159-181.