Syftet med studien är att utreda hur OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning implementerats i svensk respektive amerikansk lagstiftning, för att fastställa i vilken utsträckning redovisningstradition påverkar implementeringen av skattemässiga regler. För att uppfylla syftet har vi utfört en komparativ studie, som baseras på en kvalitativ innehållsanalys, där vi klassificerar regelverken utifrån i vilken utsträckning de är princip- eller regelbaserade. Undersökningen är relevant då internationell internprissättning av många anses vara den mest prioriterade internationella skattefrågan i dagsläget. Det blir därför relevant att undersöka om redovisningstradition påverkar hur internationella regler för internprissättning implementeras i nationell skattereglering. Enligt vår vetskap har inget liknande klassificeringsförsök gjorts tidigare vilket ytterligare förstärker relevansen av utförd undersökning och analys. Vårt bidrag till forskningen är att försöka beskriva hur verkligheten ser ut avseende om nationell redovisningstradition påverkar implementering av internationella skattemässiga regelverk. Vi vill även bidra till att göra diskussionen kring klassificering av regel- och principbaserade standarder mer nyanserad.För att kunna avgöra om regelverken är princip- eller regelbaserade har vi identifierat olika begrepp och definitioner som indikerar om ett regelverk är regelbaserat eller principbaserat. För att identifiera dessa indikatorer har vi studerat både ekonomisk och juridisk litteratur. Utifrån den information som indikatorerna resulterar i presenterar vi argument för varje undersökt regelverk i de olika länderna, gällande i vilken utsträckning de är princip- eller regelbaserade. Således kan sedan slutsatser dras kring i vilken utsträckning nationella redovisningstraditioner påverkar implementering av internationella skatteregler.I studien diskuteras att hur regler kring internationell internprissättning implementeras i nationell lagstiftning inte bara påverkas av normgivande supranationella organisationer som OECD. Påverkan på det sätt som regler kring internprissättning implementeras kan således ske mellan OECD och medlemsländerna men även mellan medlemsländerna. I studien diskuteras även det faktum att det föreligger en debatt kring om klassificeringen av standarder som regel- eller principbaserade är giltig. Vår studie förstärker bilden av att indelningen är aktuell och har förankring i verkligheten.Vår slutsats är att nationell redovisningstradition, avseende om redovisningen bygger på regler eller principer, påverkar implementering av internationella skatteregler. Det blir tydligt då vår studie visar att OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning är ett principbaserat regelverk. Vidare har vi fastställt att redovisningen i Sverige bygger på principbaserade regelverk. Påverkan från nationell redovisningstradition kan fastställas då OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning har implementerats rakt av i Sverige. I USA, där redovisningen bygger på regelbaserade regelverk, har däremot OECDs riktlinjer för internprissättning inte implementerats på något område i nationell lagstiftning. I USA utfärdas istället separata regler kring internprissättning. Vår studie visar att dessa är utformade på ett regelbaserat vis. Sammantaget visar detta att nationell redovisningstradition i hög utsträckning påverkar implementeringen av internationella skatteregler. / The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how OECDs Transfer Pricing Guidelines have been implemented in national regulation in Sweden and in the USA. This to determine to which extent national accounting tradition affects the implementation of international tax regulations. To fulfil the purpose we have undertaken a comparative study, which is based upon a qualitative content analysis, where we classify the regulations based on to which extent they are principle-based or rule-based. The study is relevant since international transfer pricing is considered to be one of the most important tax issues in present time. It is due to this fact relevant to examine if accounting tradition affects the way in which international transfer pricing regulations are implemented in national tax regulations. Due to our knowledge there has not been an attempt to accomplish a classification in this manner previously. This enhances the relevance to the study undertaken. Our contribution to the research field is to try to describe the actuality regarding if national accounting tradition affects implementation of international tax regulations. We also want to make the discussion regarding the classification of principle-based and rule-based standards more nuanced.To be able to determine if the regulations are principle-based or rule-based we have identified concepts and definitions that indicates if regulations are rule-based or principle-based. To identify these indicators we have studied both economic and legal literature. Based on the information that the indicators provide we present arguments regarding to which extent the examined regulations, in the different countries, are principle-based or rule-based. Thus, conclusions regarding to which extent national accounting traditions affects implementation of international tax regulations can be made.In the study we discuss that the way in which regulations regarding transfer pricing is implemented in national legislation is not only affected by normative supranational organisations like the OECD. The impact on the way that regulations regarding transfer pricing are implemented can thus take place between OECD and member countries and also between member countries. In the study we also discuss the fact that there is a debate regarding if the classification of standards as rule-based or principle-based is valid. Our study enhances the impression that the classification is valid and relevant.Our conclusion is that national accounting tradition, regarding if accounting is based on rules or principles, affects the implementations of international tax regulations. This becomes clear since our study shows that OECDs Transfer Pricing Guidelines are principle-based. Furthermore we have determined that accounting in Sweden is based upon principle-based regulations. Since OECDs Transfer Pricing Guidelines have been implemented in Sweden IVwithout adjustments we can determine an impact from national accounting tradition. In the USA, which is a country where accounting is based upon rule-based regulations, the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines are not implemented in national regulations. In the U.S. separate regulations regarding transfer pricing are issued. Our study shows that these regulations are formed in a rule-based manner. All together this shows that national accounting tradition largely affect the implementation of international tax regulations.This paper is hereinafter written in Swedish.

In 1982, the Financial Accounting Board (FASB) issued Statment of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69 (SFAS No. 69) which required oil and gas producing companies to disclose supplementary information to the basic financial statements. These disclosures include, costs incurred, capitalized costs, reserve quantities, and a standardized measure of discounted cash flows. The FASB considered these disclosures to be necessary to compensate for the deficiencies in historical cost financial statements. The usefulness of the new signals created by SFAS No. 69, however, is an empirical question and research regarding that objective is lacking. The objective of the study is to test the usefulness of SFAS No. 69. The research strategy used to achieve that objective is to compare the discriminant and predictive power of SFAS No. 69 signals or SFAS No. 69 signals combined with financial signals to that of financial signals alone. The research hypothesized that SFAS No. 69 signals by themselves or as supplmentary to financial signals have more discriminant and predictive ability for business failure in oil and gas industry than do financial signals alone. In order to test that hypothesis, the study used the multiple discriminant analysis technique (MDA) to develop three equations. The first is based on SFAS NO. 69 signals, the second on financial statement signals, and the third on joint financial and SFAS No. 69 signals. Data were collected from the 10-K's arid the annual reports of 28 oil and gas companies (14 failed and 14 nonfailed). The analysis was repeated for four time bases, one year before failure, two years before failure, three years before failure, and the average of the three years immediately before failure. After assessing the discriminant and predictive ability of each equation in the four time bases, a t-test was used to determine a significant difference in the discriminant and predictive power existed between SFAS No. 69 signals or SFAS No. 69 signals combined with financial signals and financial signals alone. The study concluded that SFAS No. 69 signals by themselves or as supplementary to financial statements have more discriminant and predictive power for business failure than financial signals alone in the analyses of the third year before failure and of the average of three years before failure. The study, however, found no significant difference in the discriminant and predictive ability in the analyses of one year and two years before failure. The results indicated that SFAS No. 69 signals are useful for financial report users in detecting the deterioration of the financial position of an oil and gas company before failure.

隨著FASB與IASB於2010年將穩健原則從觀念性架構中剔除，以確保財務資訊之中立性，穩健原則之存廢與否開始受到各界廣泛地討論。本文之目的主要係探討導致我國上市上櫃公司財務報表趨於穩健之原因，以檢視穩健原則對於企業財務報表之影響。 過去文獻指出企業之代理問題以及公司治理環境與財務報表穩健性之間可能存在兩種關聯性─替代觀點及補充觀點，而我國之情況係屬於前者；惟本文認為準則規範才是導致我國企業財報具備穩健性之主要原因，且該論點亦獲得本文實證結果支持。 此外，本文亦發現第35號公報適用後，受到該公報影響程度最大之資本密集產業，其財務報表穩健性反而呈現下降的趨勢，顯示管理階層可能為了因應該公報對其盈餘之衝擊而進行盈餘操縱，使其財務報導品質因而降低；有鑑於此，本文對於穩健原則是否真能有效提升財務報導品質，仍持保留的態度。

The purpose of this study was to determine the informational value of FASB Statement No. 33 current cost disclosures using the analytical technique of industry-wide decomposition analysis. The industry-wide decomposition model was used to measure the informational content of both the historical cost balance sheets (reported in the firm's annual reports) and the current cost balance sheets (prepared from the current cost disclosures) of firms in the Electric Services and Retailers industries. The two measures were then compared to determine the informational value of FASB Statement No. 33 current cost disclosures.

This study uses both basic and self-selection regression models to test three hypotheses about the effect of SFAS 87 disclosures on information asymmetry during 1985- 1987. Both types of models test the hypotheses after controlling for changes in the inventory holding and order processing costs of the spread, while the self-selection models also control for potential self-selection bias.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / We investigate some simulation-based approaches for the valuing of the employee stock options. The mathematical models that deal with valuation of such options include the work of Jennergren and Naeslund [L.P Jennergren and B. Naeslund, A comment on valuation of executive stock options and the FASB proposal, Accounting Review 68 (1993) 179-183]. They used the Black and Scholes [F. Black and M. Scholes, The pricing of options and corporate liabilities, Journal of Political Economy 81(1973) 637-659] and extended partial differential equation for an option that includes the early exercise. Some other major relevant works to this mini thesis are Hemmer et al. [T Hemmer, S. Matsunaga and T Shevlin, The influence of risk diversification on the early exercise of employee stock options by executive officers, Journal of Accounting and Economics 21(1) (1996) 45-68] and Baril et al. [C. Baril, L. Betancourt, J. Briggs, Valuing employee stock options under SFAS 123 R using the Black-Scholes-Merton and lattice model approaches, Journal of Accounting Education 25 (1-2) (2007) 88-101]. The underlying assets are studied under the GARCH (generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity) effects. Particular emphasis is made on the American style employee stock options. / South Africa

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have reaffirmed their commitment to accomplishing the convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (US GAAP), following their March 2010 progress report. Among the standards subject to this convergence project, is IAS 23 - Borrowing Costs. Taken at face value, the convergence of IAS 23 (IFRS) and SFAS 34 (US GAAP), and looking at convergence in general, the idea is productive and beneficial. It will lead to more comparative information as it eliminates the differences. The downside, however, could very easily be that convergence might just be taking place for the sake of convergence, and that the end result might not necessarily lead to more comparative and cost effective information. When specifically considering the convergence of the two borrowing costs standards (SFAS 34 and IAS 23), it is clear that differences remain even after their convergence, and therefore it does not promote comparability. The revision of IAS 23 might actually have been more costly and less beneficial, rather than the other way around. The first article in this dissertation claims that the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs is more costly than not, and that the IASB did not adequately consider the cost implications in their decision to change IAS 23, as well as that the benefits obtained from the capitalisation of borrowing costs are not that noticeable in practice. Participants in this study also seemed to agree that the application of IAS 23 is fairly difficult. Delving deeper into the technical aspects of IAS 23, a number of questions also arise relating to its application. This appears to be substantiated by the findings in the second article where instances were identified where the opinions of the participants relating to, for instance, what would be regarded as a 'substantial period of time', were divided. Differences relating to the above above viii may lead to one person capitalising borrowing costs, while another in the same situation would not. On the upside, a few instances were identified where participants were not as divided in their views. Therefore, although there appear to be some uncertainties within IAS 23, there are fewer than one would have expected. In summary, the revised IAS 23, in other words, the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs on qualifying assets, was viewed by participants as being more costly and difficult to apply than not and they felt that some technical uncertainties do exist within IAS 23. Recommendations have been made in this dissertation based on the useful information obtained. / Thesis (M.Com. (Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have reaffirmed their commitment to accomplishing the convergence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and US Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (US GAAP), following their March 2010 progress report. Among the standards subject to this convergence project, is IAS 23 - Borrowing Costs. Taken at face value, the convergence of IAS 23 (IFRS) and SFAS 34 (US GAAP), and looking at convergence in general, the idea is productive and beneficial. It will lead to more comparative information as it eliminates the differences. The downside, however, could very easily be that convergence might just be taking place for the sake of convergence, and that the end result might not necessarily lead to more comparative and cost effective information. When specifically considering the convergence of the two borrowing costs standards (SFAS 34 and IAS 23), it is clear that differences remain even after their convergence, and therefore it does not promote comparability. The revision of IAS 23 might actually have been more costly and less beneficial, rather than the other way around. The first article in this dissertation claims that the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs is more costly than not, and that the IASB did not adequately consider the cost implications in their decision to change IAS 23, as well as that the benefits obtained from the capitalisation of borrowing costs are not that noticeable in practice. Participants in this study also seemed to agree that the application of IAS 23 is fairly difficult. Delving deeper into the technical aspects of IAS 23, a number of questions also arise relating to its application. This appears to be substantiated by the findings in the second article where instances were identified where the opinions of the participants relating to, for instance, what would be regarded as a 'substantial period of time', were divided. Differences relating to the above above viii may lead to one person capitalising borrowing costs, while another in the same situation would not. On the upside, a few instances were identified where participants were not as divided in their views. Therefore, although there appear to be some uncertainties within IAS 23, there are fewer than one would have expected. In summary, the revised IAS 23, in other words, the mandatory capitalisation of borrowing costs on qualifying assets, was viewed by participants as being more costly and difficult to apply than not and they felt that some technical uncertainties do exist within IAS 23. Recommendations have been made in this dissertation based on the useful information obtained. / Thesis (M.Com. (Accountancy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.