Author(s)

Markus Kreipl, Timm Hane, Stefan Mueller

Department for Accounting and Auditing, Helmut-Schmidt-University, Hamburg, Germany.
Senger Holding GmbH, Rheine, Germany.

The paper provides survey data on the information quality under IFRS, IFRS for SME and German-GAAP from the perspective of non-publicly traded mid-sized corporations. Survey findings suggest for a higher quality of financial statements under German-GAAP compared to those under IFRS. Beyond that, more corporations anticipate an increase in information quality with a shift from (full-)IFRS to IFRS for SME. The findings of empirical research previously obtained regarding publicly traded corporations, which show preferences for IFRS, cannot be confirmed in respect of the preferences of the non-publicly traded mid-sized corporations participating. This may be due to a general skepticism towards IFRS, a lack of IFRS knowledge, the convergence of German-GAAP and IFRS owing to the German Accounting Law Reform Act or in-group biases.

IFRS, IFRS for SME; German-GAAP; Information Quality; Non-Publicly Traded; Mid-Sized Corporations

Kreipl, M. , Hane, T. and Mueller, S. (2014) Information Quality under IFRS, IFRS for SME and German-GAAP―Survey on Preferences of Non-Publicly Traded Mid-Sized Corporations. Open Journal of Business and Management, 2, 138-150. doi: 10.4236/ojbm.2014.22017.