The Fourth Accounting Directive and Member State Options for Single Accounts

Henselmann K (2021)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Other publication type

Publication year: 2021

URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/248387

Abstract

Accounting in Europe is subject to a certain degree of harmonization due to directives of the European Union (formerly European Economic Community, European Community). Directives are not directly applicable law, but are addressed to the member states and oblige them to adapt their national laws accordingly. However, the directives partly contain member state options, which allow the states to choose between several alternatives.

Based on the 4th Company Law Directive of July 25, 1978 on the annual financial statements of corporations, the individual member state options contained therein are recorded and categorized. To capture similarities and differences in accounting systems across member states, a measurement along two dimensions is proposed: on one scale between more conservative or progressive accounting (CP score), on the other scale between more restrictive or informative disclosure (RI score).

The view changes over time. On the one hand, the European accounting directives (together with the options they contain) have been amended many times over the years, in particular supplemented. In addition, the exercise of the available options by the member states could change. When the CP and RI scores are plotted on a graph, a path emerges that illustrates the development of a member state's accounting system over the years.

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How to cite

APA:

Henselmann, K. (2021). The Fourth Accounting Directive and Member State Options for Single Accounts.

MLA:

Henselmann, Klaus. The Fourth Accounting Directive and Member State Options for Single Accounts. 2021.

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