A contingency theory perspective on the analysis of central government accounting disclosure under International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
ISSN: 2049-372X
Article publication date: 14 May 2020
Issue publication date: 18 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of central government financial information disclosed in accordance with accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and to investigate the environmental factors affecting this level, drawing on the contingency theory framework.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a self-constructed checklist of 116 items to measure the IPSAS disclosure level by 100 public sector entities from different countries across the globe during the period 2015–2017. Panel regressions have been used.
Findings
The results show significant differences in compliance levels with IPSAS disclosures across nations. They reveal a positive influence of the degree of government openness (political culture), quality of public administration and management and prior experience with International Accounting Standards (IAS)/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the public sector on this level, whereas government financial condition is a nonsignificant factor.
Practical implications
The research findings are potentially relevant to academics, researchers, practitioners, standard-setters and government policymakers. By examining the influencing factors of IPSAS disclosure level, this paper paves the way for further investigation of this topic with a more extensive set of micro and macroeconomic variables whether at the central or local government level in other jurisdictions
Originality/value
This study provides new insights into the assessment of the transparency and completeness of government accrual-based financial statements. Based on the contingency theory, this paper is the first to empirically investigate the factors affecting the level of disclosure under accrual-based IPSAS by central government entities in a cross-country analysis.
Keywords
Citation
Mnif, Y. and Gafsi, Y. (2020), "A contingency theory perspective on the analysis of central government accounting disclosure under International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)", Meditari Accountancy Research, Vol. 28 No. 6, pp. 1089-1117. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-04-2019-0480
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited