Presented below are comments made in the financial press.InstructionsPrepare responses to the requirements in each item.

a) Rep. John Dingell, at one time the ranking Democrat on the House Commerce Committee, threw his support behind the FASB’s controversial derivatives accounting standard and encouraged the FASB to adopt the rule promptly. Indicate why a member of Congress might feel obligated to comment on his proposed FASB standard.

b) In a strongly worded letter to Senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) and House Banking Committee Chairman Jim Leach (R-IA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) cautioned against government intervention in the accounting standard-setting process, warning that it had the potential of jeopardizing U.S. capital markets. Explain how government intervention could possibly affect capital markets adversely.

Short Answer

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a) Given the financial outcomes of GAAP, it is not astonishing that special interest categories become critical and vocal (some supporting while some opposing) when rules are prepared. The FASB’s derivative accounting declaration is no exception

b) Set up of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) through political method will possibly result in the outcomes such as an absence of coherence that will lead to conflicting applications. Moreover, there are so many substitutes.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of FASB Standard

The Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) is an unconventional governmental entity for setting up and framing the accounting and financial reporting standards for firms and governmental entities in the United States.

02

Explanation for Statement ‘a’


Regarding the GAAP financial outcomes, it is not shocking that thespecial interest class becomes critical and vocal when standards are being set up.Moreover,they also stated that the proposal might not encourage reasonable risk management events and, in a few cases, could display ambiguous financial information.

As a result, Congress is usually approached to apply pressure on the FASB to alter its pronouncements. In the argument of stock option, the industry was entirely productive in approaching Congress to pressurise the FASB to alter its findings. In the derivative argument, Rep. Richard Baker presented a bill which would pressure the SEC to certify each standard provided by the FASB officially.

03

Explanation for the statement ‘b’


EstablishingGAAP with the political processwillresultin the outcomes such as the absence of disclosure thatdiminishes transparencyand is not broad in scope. In the absence of an independent process, GAAP will be dependent on political agreement. Using generally accepted accounting principles for the S and L firm would have compelled regulators to prohibit the activities of many S&Ls.

Another evidence of the issue of government intervention is displayed in the accounting standards used by a few countries around the globe. Wholeness and transparency of information required by creditors and investors are unavailable to fulfil other purposes.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The authoritative status of the conceptual framework is as follows. (a) It is used when there is no standard or interpretation related to the reporting issues under consideration. (b) It is not as authoritative as a standard but takes precedence over any interpretation related to the reporting issue. (c) It takes precedence over all other authoritative literature. (d) It has no authoritative status.

IFRS is comprised of:

(a) International Financial Reporting Standards and FASB Financial Reporting Standards.

(b) International Financial Reporting Standards, International Accounting Standards, and International Accounting Interpretations.

(c) International Accounting Standards and International Accounting Interpretations.

(d) FASB Financial Reporting Standards and International Accounting Standards.

One of the major groups that has been involved in the standard-setting process is the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Initially, it was the primary organization that established accounting principles in the United States. Subsequently, it relinquished its power to the FASB.

Instructions

  1. Identify the two committees of the AICPA that established accounting principles prior to the establishment of the FASB.
  2. Speculate as to why these two organizations failed. In your answer, identify steps the FASB has taken to avoid failure.
  3. What is the present role of the AICPA in the rule-making environment?

One writer recently noted that 99.4 percent of all companies prepare statements that are in accordance with GAAP. Why then is there such concern about fraudulent financial reporting?

What is the difference between the codification and the codification research system?

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