This study concerns itself with executive share option plans that have earnings per share targets and examines whether the existence of such vesting criteria results in opportunistic behaviour by managers or represents efficient contracting. Accounting choices by management are studied to see whether earnings per share targets in various executive remuneration components are associated with (1) the disclosure of alternative earnings per share, (2) earnings management defined as abnormal working capital accruals and (3) earnings management defined as meeting or beating analysts' forecasts. To begin with, the current study tests for an association between the disclosure of alternative earnings per share figures and earnings per share performance criteria in executive share options. Following Healy (1985) it is argued that situations might exist where executives are aware they will not meet the target or will overshoot the target giving rise to incentives to manage earnings downwards. There are also situations where executives expect to miss the target but have incentives (and scope) to manage earnings upwards. The study then proceeds to measure earnings management using a modified Jones (1991) model. A proxy for target growth in earnings per share is developed. The third and final section of the current study considers meeting or beating analysts' forecasts as the earnings management metric. Prior research provides evidence that meeting or beating analysts' forecasts is rewarded by the stock market and as the payout from executive share options is linked to share price, executives have incentives to meet or beat analysts' forecasts.Regression analysis, in the form of either logit or ordinary least squares is employed in all three sections of this study. The results suggest that earnings management is associated with earnings per share vesting targets in executive share option plans. Moreover, the findings as a whole suggest that the introduction of earnings per share targets as a vesting criterion in executive share options resulted in opportunistic behaviour by management.This thesis adopts an agency theory framework and contributes to the literature on corporate governance and executive remuneration by identifying a specific contractual setting where management is especially sensitive to reported earnings numbers. This particular setting is novel. Additionally, the research design facilitated the testing of whether or not executive share options with an earnings per share growth target result in opportunistic behaviour on the part of managers or represent efficient contracting.

<p><strong><em>Objective:</em></strong> The IFRSs are getting more popularity all over the world. IAS 39 is one of the most sophisticated standards included in the IFRS jurisdiction, which mainly addresses the recognition and measurement of financial instruments and hedge accounting. When these instruments had been <em>off-balance sheet</em> hidden, accounting scandals were the consequences. Capturing these risky instruments in the body of the financial statements, according to IAS 39, implies diverse accounting choices where the selection is tied to managers' judgment.</p><p>The Swedish GAAPs have been criticized in the literature of being less conservative than the US GAAPs. Sweden as an EU member has mandated the adoption of IFRSs in the consolidated financial statements of all listed companies, since 2005. No published research has studied the effect of IAS 39 diverse accounting practices on <em>de facto</em> harmonization and comparability in Sweden. The current study fills this gap in the literature, and goes beyond to investigate whether the selected accounting choices are associated with the industry sectors.</p><p><strong><em>Methods:</em></strong> A sample of 50 companies listed in NASDAQ, Stockholm in the financial and the industrial sectors is selected. Secondary data are obtained from the 2007 annual reports of the selected companies. Six accounting practice categories are detected under the standard. Herfindahl (H) index and Chi- square test are applied on the data.</p><p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong> The results show a relatively low harmonization and comparability in most of the accounting practices, and variation in associations between accounting practices and sectors. This infers to the risk of producing non-comparable financial statements that may distort the value of accounting numbers, the content of financial statements and negatively affect market participants.</p><p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong> Much effort is still needed to enhance <em>de facto</em> harmonization and comparability of financial reporting. Further research is also motivated in order to develop a harmonization theory that support standard setters in revising the existing standard to eliminate inconsistencies in accounting choice selection and enhance comparability.</p><p> </p>

Objective: The IFRSs are getting more popularity all over the world. IAS 39 is one of the most sophisticated standards included in the IFRS jurisdiction, which mainly addresses the recognition and measurement of financial instruments and hedge accounting. When these instruments had been off-balance sheet hidden, accounting scandals were the consequences. Capturing these risky instruments in the body of the financial statements, according to IAS 39, implies diverse accounting choices where the selection is tied to managers' judgment. The Swedish GAAPs have been criticized in the literature of being less conservative than the US GAAPs. Sweden as an EU member has mandated the adoption of IFRSs in the consolidated financial statements of all listed companies, since 2005. No published research has studied the effect of IAS 39 diverse accounting practices on de facto harmonization and comparability in Sweden. The current study fills this gap in the literature, and goes beyond to investigate whether the selected accounting choices are associated with the industry sectors. Methods: A sample of 50 companies listed in NASDAQ, Stockholm in the financial and the industrial sectors is selected. Secondary data are obtained from the 2007 annual reports of the selected companies. Six accounting practice categories are detected under the standard. Herfindahl (H) index and Chi- square test are applied on the data. Results: The results show a relatively low harmonization and comparability in most of the accounting practices, and variation in associations between accounting practices and sectors. This infers to the risk of producing non-comparable financial statements that may distort the value of accounting numbers, the content of financial statements and negatively affect market participants. Conclusion: Much effort is still needed to enhance de facto harmonization and comparability of financial reporting. Further research is also motivated in order to develop a harmonization theory that support standard setters in revising the existing standard to eliminate inconsistencies in accounting choice selection and enhance comparability.

Bakgrund och problemdiskussion: Efterfrågan på en mer harmoniserad redovisnings- lagstiftning på grund av ökad globalisering och mer fria gränser ledde fram till införandet av IFRS, som implementerades år 2005. IFRS är obligatoriskt för noterade bolag i Sverige, men även onoterade bolag kan välja att frivilligt tillämpa IFRS. K-regelverket infördes i sin helhet år 2014 och sedan dess har större onoterade bolag möjligheten att frivilligt uppgradera sin redovisningsstandard från K3 till IFRS. Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte är att identifiera vilka faktorer som bidrar till att bolag väljer att frivilligt uppgradera sin redovisningsstandard. Metod: Uppsatsen består av två delstudier. Den första delstudien är en kvantitativ studie med en deduktiv forskningsansats och den andra delstudien är en kvalitativ studie med en abduktiv forskningsansats. Att kombinera de två delstudierna möjliggör identifiering av faktorer som studeras genom data från årsredovisningar och utifrån en intervjuserie med ekonomi- eller redovisningsansvariga på åtta bolag. Resultat och slutsatser: Studiens resultat tyder på att det finns vissa faktorer som påverkar bolag att frivilligt uppgradera sin redovisningsstandard. Den första delstudiens resultat visar att storlek och bransch har en påverkan på bolag att frivilligt uppgradera sin redovisningsstandard. Delstudie två visar att flera av första delstudiens faktorer i kombination påverkar bolagens förhållande till att frivilligt uppgradera sin redovisningsstandard, men även att ägarnas preferenser och riskbenägenhet är avgörande. / Background and problem diskussion: The demand for a more harmonized accounting legislation due to increased globalization and more free borders led to the introduction of IFRS, which was implemented in 2005. IFRS are mandatory for listed companies in Sweden, but also unlisted companies may choose to voluntarily adopt IFRS. The K- regulatory framework was introduced in its entirety in 2014 and since then larger unlisted companies has the opportunity to voluntarily upgrade their accounting standard from K3 to IFRS. Purpose: This paper aims to identify the factors contributing to why companies choose to voluntarily upgrade their accounting standard. Method: The thesis consists of two studies. The first study is a quantitative study with a deductive research approach and the second study is a qualitative study with an abductive research approach. Combining the two sub-studies allow identification of factors studied through data from annual reports and factors through a series of interviews with finance or accounting officers of eight companies. Results and conclusions: The study's results suggest that there are certain factors that affect the companies to voluntarily upgrade their accounting standard. The results from the first part of the study show that the size and industry have an impact on companies to voluntarily upgrade their accounting standard. Part two of the study shows that factors from the first part of the study in combination with each other affect companies to voluntarily upgrade their accounting standard, but also that owners' preferences and willingness to take risks is crucial.

As normas contábeis brasileiras estabelecem algumas opções de classificação na Demonstração dos Fluxos de Caixa (DFC), especificamente os fluxos de caixa relacionados aos juros, dividendos e juros sobre capital próprio (JCP) pagos e recebidos. Tais fluxos de caixa podem ser classificados na DFC em três diferentes atividades: operacional (FCO), de investimento (FCI) ou de financiamento (FCF). Por um lado, essa flexibilidade de classificação permite que uma informação mais fidedigna seja divulgada, uma vez que a apresentação da DFC poderá ser adaptada às circunstâncias específicas de cada empresa. Por outro lado, abre espaço para comportamentos oportunistas, ao permitir a escolha da opção que gera a informação mais conveniente. Este trabalho busca identificar incentivos, relacionados às características das empresas não financeiras do mercado de capitais brasileiro, que influenciaram as escolhas de classificação dos juros, dividendos e JCP na DFC, no período de 2008 a 2014. As hipóteses resultantes desse objetivo referem-se a: classificação dos fluxos de caixa de acordo com o encorajamento do CPC 03; identificação de uma possível padronização das classificações na DFC entre empresas com aspectos semelhantes (mesmo setor ou firma de auditoria); relação entre mudanças de classificação dos juros pagos com a troca de auditor; e, o efeito da escolha de classificação dos juros, dividendos e JCP na DFC sobre o FCO, de acordo com características financeiras e de desempenho das empresas. Para fins de mensuração do efeito sobre o FCO, tomou-se por referência o parágrafo 34A do CPC 03, que encoraja a classificação dos juros recebidos ou pagos, dos dividendos recebidos e JCP recebidos como FCO; assim como os dividendos pagos e JCP pagos como FCF. Para análise do referido efeito, foram utilizados dados em painel e duas regressões com as seguintes variáveis dependentes: 1) a diferença em reais entre o FCO divulgado e o valor que seria o FCO ao seguir as opções encorajadas pelo CPC 03; e, 2) a escolha de classificação dos juros pagos (variável dummy). Considerou-se os juros pagos, pois, entre as alternativas, trata-se daquela que aumenta o FCO caso não seja seguida a classificação recomendada pelo CPC. Com uma amostra de 352 empresas, 2.290 relatórios analisados e 3.764 dados levantados, os resultados apontaram que: i) a maior parte das empresas brasileiras segue as classificações encorajadas pelo CPC 03, exceto quanto ao item dividendos/JCP recebidos; ii) alguns setores seguiram uma classificação predominante em todos ou parte dos itens que possuem flexibilidade de apresentação na DFC; iii) há classificações predominantes para empresas que possuem determinadas firmas de auditoria; iv) as mudanças de classificação dos juros pagos ocorreram independentemente da troca de auditor; e, v) há evidências de que o endividamento influencia na divulgação de um FCO em montante diferente do que seria se a recomendação de classificação do CPC fosse seguida. Os resultados alcançados trazem evidências sobre a relação entre características das empresas brasileiras e o FCO divulgado decorrente da escolha de classificação na DFC. / Brazilian accounting standards establish some classification options in the Statement of Cash Flows (SCF), specifically the cash flows related to interest, dividends and interest on capital paid and received. Such cash flows can be classified in the SCF in three different activities: operating (FCO), investment (FCI) or financing (FCF). This flexibility of classification, on the one hand, allows the disclosure of a more accurate information, since the presentation of SCF can be adapted to the specific circumstances of each company. On the other hand, it makes room for opportunistic behavior by allowing choice of which option to generate the most suitable information. This study aims to identify incentives related to the characteristics of non-financial companies in the Brazilian capital markets, which influenced the choices of classification of interest, dividends and interest on capital in the SCF, from 2008 to 2014. The resultant hypothesis from the objective refer to: cash flows classification according to the encouragement of the CPC 03; identification of a possible standardization of classifications in SCF among companies with similar features (same sector or audit firm); relationship between classification shift of the interest paid with the change of auditor; and, the effect on the FCO of the classification choice of interest, dividends and interest on capital in the SCF, according to financial characteristics and performance of companies. For the measurement purposes of the effect on the FCO, the paragraph 34A of CPC 03 is taken as reference, which encourages the classification of interest received or paid, dividends received and interest on capital received as FCO; as well as dividends paid and interest on capital paid as FCF. For analysis of that effect, panel data and two regressions with the following dependent variables have been adopted: 1) the difference in reais between the disclosed FCO and the amount that the FCO would be if the options encouraged by the CPC 03 had been followed; and, 2) the classification choice of interest paid (dummy). The interest paid was considered because, among alternatives, it is that which increases the FCO if the classification recommended by the CPC is not followed. With a sample of 352 companies, 2.290 reports analyzed and 3.764 data collected, the results show that: i) the most Brazilian companies follow the classifications encouraged by CPC 03, except those related to dividends/interest on capital received; ii) some sectors followed a predominant classification in all items or part of them that allow flexibility of presentation in SCF; iii) there are prevalent classifications for companies with certain audit firms; iv) classification shift of the interest paid occurred regardless of the change of auditor; and, v) there is evidence that the debt influences the disclosure of an FCO in an different amount than if the CPC classification recommendation had been followed. The achieved results provide evidence on the relationship between characteristics of Brazilian companies and the FCO released due to the choice of classification in the SCF.

Este estudo teve como objetivo diagnosticar e analisar características corporativas associadas à realização de múltiplas escolhas contábeis em empresas de grande porte no Brasil, um ambiente peculiar de transição contábil para o IFRS em mais de uma etapa. As características corporativas refletem incentivos econômicos, contratuais e institucionais para a realização de escolhas contábeis. Foi feito um diagnóstico das escolhas contábeis de mensuração, reconhecimento, classificação e apresentação de 75 empresas de grande porte no Brasil (companhias abertas e fechadas) durante o período de transição para o IFRS (2008-2009) e nos quatro anos subsequentes à convergência completa (2010-2013). Foram observadas as características corporativas que podem estar associadas a essas escolhas contábeis. As técnicas estatísticas análise de correspondência simples e múltipla foram usadas para detectar associações entre escolhas contábeis e características corporativas. O estudo partiu de certas hipóteses derivadas de estudos anteriores sobre escolhas contábeis e fundamentadas em três teorias principais: Teoria Contratual da Firma, Teoria Positiva da Contabilidade e Teoria Institucional. A hipótese central (tese) propõe que em ambiente de transição contábil para o IFRS em mais de uma etapa as características institucionais se associam em maior grau às escolhas contábeis de empresas de grande porte. A partir das análises desenvolvidas foi possível concluir que as características econômicas, contratuais e institucionais se associam a uma ou mais escolhas contábeis realizadas nas empresas de grande porte estudadas, durante e após a adoção do IFRS, ou seja, explicam parcialmente as escolhas contábeis em tais empresas. Adicionalmente, verificou-se que as características institucionais se associam a um maior número de escolhas contábeis realizadas nas empresas pesquisadas, isto é, têm um potencial maior para explicar a realização de escolhas contábeis, se comparadas às demais características corporativas analisadas, o que apoia a tese apresentada. Isso significa que nem sempre as escolhas contábeis efetuadas nas empresas seguiram a racionalidade econômica, e sim, refletiram mais o ambiente institucional do que as relações contratuais e econômicas estabelecidas. Possíveis explicações para esse resultado podem estar relacionadas com o nível de desenvolvimento do mercado brasileiro e com a curva de aprendizado institucional contábil. Ainda que o IFRS seja voltado especialmente para o mercado de capitais, nas empresas de grande porte analisadas as escolhas contábeis explícitas no IFRS podem ser explicadas por características econômicas e contratuais, porém de forma parcial e em menor grau, se comparadas às características institucionais, conforme previsto na hipótese central do presente estudo. Dadas as hipóteses levantadas, as escolhas contábeis podem ter sido realizadas, nas empresas pesquisadas, para atender spectos de eficiência ou mesmo por oportunismo dos gestores, porém, há evidências de que foram mais incentivadas por pressões institucionais e pela busca da legitimidade das práticas contábeis. Em linhas gerais, sugere-se que variáveis institucionais sejam incluídas em estudos futuros sobre escolhas contábeis, no Brasil e em outros países, especialmente aqueles que experimentaram um processo de mudança institucional, como o advindo da adoção do IFRS. / This study aimed to diagnose and analyze corporate characteristics associated with the performance of multiple accounting choices in large companies in Brazil, a peculiar environment of accounting transition to IFRS in more than one stage. Corporate characteristics reflect economic, contractual and institutional incentives to perform accounting choices. A diagnosis of measurement, recognition, classification and presentation accounting choices was made, of 75 large companies in Brazil (public and private companies) during the period of transition to IFRS (2008-2009) and in the following four years of the complete convergence (2010-2013). The corporate characteristics, which may be associated with these accounting choices, were observed. The statistical techniques, simple and multiple correspondence analysis, were used to detect associations between accounting choices and corporate characteristics. The study was based on certain hypothesis derived from previous studies of accounting choices and based on three main theories: Contract Theory of the Firm, Positive Accounting Theory and Institutional Theory. The central hypothesis (thesis) proposes that in accounting transition environment to IFRS in more than one stage the institutional characteristics are associated in a greater extent to the accounting choices of large companies. From the developed analysis it was concluded that the economic, contractual and institutional characteristics are associated with one or more accounting choices made in large companies studied, during and after the adoption of IFRS, i.e. partially explain the accounting choices in such companies. Additionally, it was found that institutional characteristics are associated with a greater number of accounting choices performed in search companies, i.e., have a greater potential to explain performing accounting choices, compared to other corporate characteristics analyzed, which supports presented thesis. This means that not all the accounting choices made in companies followed the economic rationality, but, reflected more the institutional environment than the contractual and economic relations established. Possible explanations for this result may be related to the level of development of the Brazilian market and the accounting institutional learning curve. Although IFRS is especially headed to the capital market, in large companies analyzed explicit accounting choices in IFRS can be explained due to economic and contractual characteristics, however partially and to a lesser extent compared to institutional characteristics, as provided in the main hypothesis of this study. Given the hypothesis made in the study, accounting choices may have been made in the surveyed companies to comply with efficiency aspects or even the opportunism of managers, however, there is evidence that they were more encouraged by institutional pressures and the search for legitimacy of accounting practices. In general, it is suggested that institutional variables are included in future studies of accounting choices in Brazil and other countries, especially those who experienced an institutional changing process, as the one with the IFRS use.

No presente trabalho trato das escolhas contábeis nas empresas genuínas exploradoras de propriedades para investimentos que têm suas ações negociadas no Brasil. A escolha do tema é pelo fato das normas contábeis (CPC 28, correspondente ao IAS 40) permitirem a mensuração das propriedades de investimento ou por custo histórico ou por valor justo. O objetivo do trabalho foi investigar os fatores (individuais ou em conjunto) que possam ter influenciado os agentes internos da empresa a escolher o critério de mensuração. Tais fatores, conforme a literatura, são: grau de alavancagem, custo político, grau de concentração acionária, relevância da informação e aversão a mudanças por parte do elaborador da informação contábil. No trabalho exponho dados secundários das doze principais empresas de capital aberto exploradoras de propriedades para investimento com o objetivo de identificar as características de cada uma das empresas. Para obter conhecimento mais profundo sobre as escolhas contábeis, adotei um método inovador no Brasil, ao menos nessa linha de pesquisa (mensuração de propriedades para investimento) com entrevistas semiestruturadas em duas das mais relevantes empresas do setor (uma de custo histórico e outra de valor justo). Os resultados das entrevistas reforçaram que há características relevantes distintas das empresas que podem explicar as escolhas contábeis. Tais achados, para fins de validade interna, foram confrontados com mais três empresas externas às entrevistas, e as mesmas características encontradas nas entrevistas foram também encontradas nas três empresas usadas para validação. Como resultado dos dados analisados identifiquei que as empresas optantes pelo custo histórico têm seu modelo de negócio (estratégia para ser competitiva e criar valor) pautado na \"visualização do dono\" fundador e acionista controlador, que por sua vez participa desde a escolha do local para aquisição do terreno até seleção dos clientes para quem irá locar o empreendimento. Já as empresas de valor justo são empresas com origens no mercado financeiro, não têm controle acionário concentrado e seus acionistas são fundos de investimento internacionais que cobram resultados mais expressivos da companhia, resultados esses antecipados pela adoção do valor justo. Além disso, as companhias de valor justo, diferente das de custo histórico, adquirem a maior parte de seus empreendimentos e atendem as classes emergentes da economia; já as empresas de custo histórico constroem seus empreendimentos e buscam a atender as classes mais altas da economia. Ou seja, o modelo de negócio das empresas exploradoras de propriedade de investimento explica a escolha contábil de se mensurar ou pelo custo histórico ou pelo valor justo a conta no balanço patrimonial. E essa é a principal contribuição do trabalho: a explicação do principal fator que motiva a adoção do valor justo ou do custo histórico que é o modelo de negócio de cada companhia. / This study discusses accounting choices in companies that are authentic explorers of investment property and are publicly traded in Brazil. The choice of the theme is due to the fact that the accounting standards (CPC 28, corresponding to IAS 40) permit the measuring of investment properties by their historical cost or their fair value. The objective in this study was to investigate the (individual or combined) factors that may have influences the company\'s internal agents to choose the measuring criterion. According to the literature, these factors are: degree of leverage, political cost, degree of stockholder concentration, information relevance and aversion to changes by the elaborator of the accounting information. In the study, secondary data are presented for the twelve main companies that explore investment property with a view to identifying the characteristics of each. To obtain more in-depth knowledge about the accounting choices, a method was adopted that is innovative in Brazil, at least in this research area (measuring of investment property), involving semi structured interviews in two of the most relevant companies in the sector (one of which adopted the historical cost and the other the fair value). The interview results highlighted that the companies display relevant distinct characteristics that can explain their accounting choices. For the sake of internal validity, these findings were confronted with three other companies external to the interviews, and the same characteristics found in the interviews were also found in the three companies used for the purpose of validation. As a result of the data analyzed, it was identified that the business model (strategy to be competitive and create value) in the companies that choose the historical cost is based on the \"visualization of the founding owner\" and controlling stockholder, who in turn participates from the choice of the location to purchase land to the selection of the clients to whom the business will be rented. On the other hand, companies that choose the fair value originate in the financial market, do not have a concentrated stock control and their stockholders are international investment funds that expect more expressive results from the company, anticipated by the adoption of the fair value. In addition, as opposed to the historical cost companies, the fair value companies purchase most of their businesses and attend to the emerging economic classes; the historical cost companies, on the other hand, build their business and aim to attend to the higher economic classes. In other words, the business model of the companies that explore investment property explain the accounting choice to measure the account in the balance sheet using the historical cost or the fair value. That is the main contribution of this study: the explanation of the main factor that motivates the adoption of the fair value or the historical cost, which is each company\'s business model.

This dissertation examines the financial statement effects of firm attributes on the components of equity, the market reaction effects on key events in the adoption of IFRS, and the cumulative earnings response coefficient effect in the context of IFRS adoption in Canada. Firm attributes were tested for association with the adjustment to retained earnings at the transition date when first adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS.) Evidence from the analyses of the adjustment to retained earnings model revealed a statistically significant association between the adjustment to retained earnings and the firm attributes of volatility of income, internationality, and firm industry. Market reaction was measured for two key events of IFRS adoption: early adoption announcement and the release of first quarter financial results under IFRS. A negative mean for Cumulative Average Return (CAR) resulted from tests of both events. However, only the negative mean CAR from market’s reaction to the release of first quarter financial results under IFRS demonstrated statistical significance. The adjustment to retained earnings model used in this study developed a benchmark for tests of value relevance. In the test of value relevance, the benchmark or unexpected adjustment to retained earnings was tested against the actual adjustment to retained earnings for market reaction. The results from the tests of value relevance were not statistically significant. This study contributes to the literature by identifying firm factors: volatility of income, internationality, and industry as firm factors associated with the adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption of IFRS. Further, evidence from the event study demonstrates that the market reacts negatively to the adoption of IFRS and suggests that the Canadian market may not perceive IFRS as an improvement in financial reporting or a reduction in information asymmetry.

Este estudo teve como objetivo diagnosticar e analisar características corporativas associadas à realização de múltiplas escolhas contábeis em empresas de grande porte no Brasil, um ambiente peculiar de transição contábil para o IFRS em mais de uma etapa. As características corporativas refletem incentivos econômicos, contratuais e institucionais para a realização de escolhas contábeis. Foi feito um diagnóstico das escolhas contábeis de mensuração, reconhecimento, classificação e apresentação de 75 empresas de grande porte no Brasil (companhias abertas e fechadas) durante o período de transição para o IFRS (2008-2009) e nos quatro anos subsequentes à convergência completa (2010-2013). Foram observadas as características corporativas que podem estar associadas a essas escolhas contábeis. As técnicas estatísticas análise de correspondência simples e múltipla foram usadas para detectar associações entre escolhas contábeis e características corporativas. O estudo partiu de certas hipóteses derivadas de estudos anteriores sobre escolhas contábeis e fundamentadas em três teorias principais: Teoria Contratual da Firma, Teoria Positiva da Contabilidade e Teoria Institucional. A hipótese central (tese) propõe que em ambiente de transição contábil para o IFRS em mais de uma etapa as características institucionais se associam em maior grau às escolhas contábeis de empresas de grande porte. A partir das análises desenvolvidas foi possível concluir que as características econômicas, contratuais e institucionais se associam a uma ou mais escolhas contábeis realizadas nas empresas de grande porte estudadas, durante e após a adoção do IFRS, ou seja, explicam parcialmente as escolhas contábeis em tais empresas. Adicionalmente, verificou-se que as características institucionais se associam a um maior número de escolhas contábeis realizadas nas empresas pesquisadas, isto é, têm um potencial maior para explicar a realização de escolhas contábeis, se comparadas às demais características corporativas analisadas, o que apoia a tese apresentada. Isso significa que nem sempre as escolhas contábeis efetuadas nas empresas seguiram a racionalidade econômica, e sim, refletiram mais o ambiente institucional do que as relações contratuais e econômicas estabelecidas. Possíveis explicações para esse resultado podem estar relacionadas com o nível de desenvolvimento do mercado brasileiro e com a curva de aprendizado institucional contábil. Ainda que o IFRS seja voltado especialmente para o mercado de capitais, nas empresas de grande porte analisadas as escolhas contábeis explícitas no IFRS podem ser explicadas por características econômicas e contratuais, porém de forma parcial e em menor grau, se comparadas às características institucionais, conforme previsto na hipótese central do presente estudo. Dadas as hipóteses levantadas, as escolhas contábeis podem ter sido realizadas, nas empresas pesquisadas, para atender spectos de eficiência ou mesmo por oportunismo dos gestores, porém, há evidências de que foram mais incentivadas por pressões institucionais e pela busca da legitimidade das práticas contábeis. Em linhas gerais, sugere-se que variáveis institucionais sejam incluídas em estudos futuros sobre escolhas contábeis, no Brasil e em outros países, especialmente aqueles que experimentaram um processo de mudança institucional, como o advindo da adoção do IFRS. / This study aimed to diagnose and analyze corporate characteristics associated with the performance of multiple accounting choices in large companies in Brazil, a peculiar environment of accounting transition to IFRS in more than one stage. Corporate characteristics reflect economic, contractual and institutional incentives to perform accounting choices. A diagnosis of measurement, recognition, classification and presentation accounting choices was made, of 75 large companies in Brazil (public and private companies) during the period of transition to IFRS (2008-2009) and in the following four years of the complete convergence (2010-2013). The corporate characteristics, which may be associated with these accounting choices, were observed. The statistical techniques, simple and multiple correspondence analysis, were used to detect associations between accounting choices and corporate characteristics. The study was based on certain hypothesis derived from previous studies of accounting choices and based on three main theories: Contract Theory of the Firm, Positive Accounting Theory and Institutional Theory. The central hypothesis (thesis) proposes that in accounting transition environment to IFRS in more than one stage the institutional characteristics are associated in a greater extent to the accounting choices of large companies. From the developed analysis it was concluded that the economic, contractual and institutional characteristics are associated with one or more accounting choices made in large companies studied, during and after the adoption of IFRS, i.e. partially explain the accounting choices in such companies. Additionally, it was found that institutional characteristics are associated with a greater number of accounting choices performed in search companies, i.e., have a greater potential to explain performing accounting choices, compared to other corporate characteristics analyzed, which supports presented thesis. This means that not all the accounting choices made in companies followed the economic rationality, but, reflected more the institutional environment than the contractual and economic relations established. Possible explanations for this result may be related to the level of development of the Brazilian market and the accounting institutional learning curve. Although IFRS is especially headed to the capital market, in large companies analyzed explicit accounting choices in IFRS can be explained due to economic and contractual characteristics, however partially and to a lesser extent compared to institutional characteristics, as provided in the main hypothesis of this study. Given the hypothesis made in the study, accounting choices may have been made in the surveyed companies to comply with efficiency aspects or even the opportunism of managers, however, there is evidence that they were more encouraged by institutional pressures and the search for legitimacy of accounting practices. In general, it is suggested that institutional variables are included in future studies of accounting choices in Brazil and other countries, especially those who experienced an institutional changing process, as the one with the IFRS use.

No presente trabalho trato das escolhas contábeis nas empresas genuínas exploradoras de propriedades para investimentos que têm suas ações negociadas no Brasil. A escolha do tema é pelo fato das normas contábeis (CPC 28, correspondente ao IAS 40) permitirem a mensuração das propriedades de investimento ou por custo histórico ou por valor justo. O objetivo do trabalho foi investigar os fatores (individuais ou em conjunto) que possam ter influenciado os agentes internos da empresa a escolher o critério de mensuração. Tais fatores, conforme a literatura, são: grau de alavancagem, custo político, grau de concentração acionária, relevância da informação e aversão a mudanças por parte do elaborador da informação contábil. No trabalho exponho dados secundários das doze principais empresas de capital aberto exploradoras de propriedades para investimento com o objetivo de identificar as características de cada uma das empresas. Para obter conhecimento mais profundo sobre as escolhas contábeis, adotei um método inovador no Brasil, ao menos nessa linha de pesquisa (mensuração de propriedades para investimento) com entrevistas semiestruturadas em duas das mais relevantes empresas do setor (uma de custo histórico e outra de valor justo). Os resultados das entrevistas reforçaram que há características relevantes distintas das empresas que podem explicar as escolhas contábeis. Tais achados, para fins de validade interna, foram confrontados com mais três empresas externas às entrevistas, e as mesmas características encontradas nas entrevistas foram também encontradas nas três empresas usadas para validação. Como resultado dos dados analisados identifiquei que as empresas optantes pelo custo histórico têm seu modelo de negócio (estratégia para ser competitiva e criar valor) pautado na \"visualização do dono\" fundador e acionista controlador, que por sua vez participa desde a escolha do local para aquisição do terreno até seleção dos clientes para quem irá locar o empreendimento. Já as empresas de valor justo são empresas com origens no mercado financeiro, não têm controle acionário concentrado e seus acionistas são fundos de investimento internacionais que cobram resultados mais expressivos da companhia, resultados esses antecipados pela adoção do valor justo. Além disso, as companhias de valor justo, diferente das de custo histórico, adquirem a maior parte de seus empreendimentos e atendem as classes emergentes da economia; já as empresas de custo histórico constroem seus empreendimentos e buscam a atender as classes mais altas da economia. Ou seja, o modelo de negócio das empresas exploradoras de propriedade de investimento explica a escolha contábil de se mensurar ou pelo custo histórico ou pelo valor justo a conta no balanço patrimonial. E essa é a principal contribuição do trabalho: a explicação do principal fator que motiva a adoção do valor justo ou do custo histórico que é o modelo de negócio de cada companhia. / This study discusses accounting choices in companies that are authentic explorers of investment property and are publicly traded in Brazil. The choice of the theme is due to the fact that the accounting standards (CPC 28, corresponding to IAS 40) permit the measuring of investment properties by their historical cost or their fair value. The objective in this study was to investigate the (individual or combined) factors that may have influences the company\'s internal agents to choose the measuring criterion. According to the literature, these factors are: degree of leverage, political cost, degree of stockholder concentration, information relevance and aversion to changes by the elaborator of the accounting information. In the study, secondary data are presented for the twelve main companies that explore investment property with a view to identifying the characteristics of each. To obtain more in-depth knowledge about the accounting choices, a method was adopted that is innovative in Brazil, at least in this research area (measuring of investment property), involving semi structured interviews in two of the most relevant companies in the sector (one of which adopted the historical cost and the other the fair value). The interview results highlighted that the companies display relevant distinct characteristics that can explain their accounting choices. For the sake of internal validity, these findings were confronted with three other companies external to the interviews, and the same characteristics found in the interviews were also found in the three companies used for the purpose of validation. As a result of the data analyzed, it was identified that the business model (strategy to be competitive and create value) in the companies that choose the historical cost is based on the \"visualization of the founding owner\" and controlling stockholder, who in turn participates from the choice of the location to purchase land to the selection of the clients to whom the business will be rented. On the other hand, companies that choose the fair value originate in the financial market, do not have a concentrated stock control and their stockholders are international investment funds that expect more expressive results from the company, anticipated by the adoption of the fair value. In addition, as opposed to the historical cost companies, the fair value companies purchase most of their businesses and attend to the emerging economic classes; the historical cost companies, on the other hand, build their business and aim to attend to the higher economic classes. In other words, the business model of the companies that explore investment property explain the accounting choice to measure the account in the balance sheet using the historical cost or the fair value. That is the main contribution of this study: the explanation of the main factor that motivates the adoption of the fair value or the historical cost, which is each company\'s business model.