Accounting for sustainable finance: does fair value measurement fit for long-term equity investments?
ISSN: 2049-372X
Article publication date: 18 January 2021
Issue publication date: 20 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether fair value accounting fits for long-term equity investments, which are considered key to retool economies according to sustainability criteria. In doing so, the paper focuses on the European Union and addresses the European Commission’s (2018a) concern that current accounting rules are unfit for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development goals and the targets of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper grounds in a wide literature review on the effects of fair value accounting on investors’ asset allocation strategies. By critically integrating literature on the notion of long-term investment with theories and possible accounting approaches, the paper provides implications for a revision of the current measurement system for long-term equity investments.
Findings
The literature review supports the view that fair value accounting has played a role in discouraging equity investments over time, thus leaving economies with poorer risk-sharing and weaker long-term investments. The paper contributes to the debate on alternative measurement systems by suggesting possible solutions in relation to controversies arising from empirical evidence.
Originality/value
Reorienting economies according to sustainability criteria represents an urgent issue which requires prompt and policy-oriented responses. Accordingly, this paper offers insights and guidelines that can help policymakers revise current accounting rules for long-term equity investments in line with sustainable development objectives.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The paper benefited from a research period of the author as academic fellow at EFRAG, where she worked on alternative measurements to fair value accounting for long-term equity investments. The views expressed in this paper, however, are those of the author and do not represent the position of the above-mentioned organization.
The author gratefully acknowledges the insightful comments from Yuri Biondi, Colin Haslam, Shyam Sunder and the participants in the 2020 Congress of the Society for Advancement in Socio-Economics. The author also thanks the reviewers and the associate editor for their valuable advice.
Citation
Palea, V. (2022), "Accounting for sustainable finance: does fair value measurement fit for long-term equity investments?", Meditari Accountancy Research, Vol. 30 No. 1, pp. 22-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-07-2020-0965
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited