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Enforcement and accounting quality in the context of IFRS: is there a gap in the literature?

Adriana Silva (Faculty of Economics and Centre for Business and Economics Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal)
Susana Jorge (Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal and Research Centre in Political Science, University of Minho, Portugal)
Lúcia Lima Rodrigues (School of Economics and Management and Centre for Research in Economics and Management, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal)

International Journal of Accounting & Information Management

ISSN: 1834-7649

Article publication date: 29 January 2021

Issue publication date: 3 August 2021

1028

Abstract

Purpose

Existing research has concluded that accounting quality is influenced not only by the quality of accounting standards, but also by enforcement systems. Therefore, enforcement is one of the key factors for ensuring International Financial Reporting Standards’ (IFRS) compliance and achieving accounting quality. However, one still does not know what has been studied about this relationship in scientific literature. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to identify, recap and evaluate the current state of research on the relationship between IFRS enforcement and accounting quality, to provide a critical overview of publications in this field and to identify future areas of interest.

Design/methodology/approach

Supported by a structured literature review, this paper fills in a research gap by conducting a scientometric analysis of papers on the relationship between IFRS enforcement and accounting quality construed in a broad sense. It reviews papers published between 2006 and 2019 selected from the Web of Science database, particularly analyzing main journals, authors, geographic areas of study, methods used, specific topics explored and future lines of research to be developed.

Findings

Main findings show a shortage of studies analyzing IFRS enforcement practices in individual countries and, in turn, the impact these practices may have on the accounting quality. This gap calls for further research to know the effectiveness of the IFRS-related enforcement mechanisms.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous scientometric studies focused on the enforcement of IFRS and accounting quality. This study fills this research gap and improves the understanding about what has been published on the topic, also proposing an agenda for future research that can help regulators to adjust policies for the implementation and enforcement of IFRS.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds, being jointly funded by the Research Center in Political Science, University of Minho (UIDB/ CPO/00758/2020), the Centre for Research in Economics and Management, University of Minho (UIDB/03182/2020), and the Centre for Business and Economics Research, University of Coimbra (UIDB/05037/2020).

Citation

Silva, A., Jorge, S. and Rodrigues, L.L. (2021), "Enforcement and accounting quality in the context of IFRS: is there a gap in the literature?", International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 345-367. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJAIM-08-2020-0126

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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