Since its inception, the IASB has been able to set standards with relatively little political influence in its governance or standard setting process. But this changed with the outbreak of the global financial crisis. Political bodies began to view accounting standards as a contributing factor...

As a response to multiple financial shocks, international standards have disappointed. Consensus-seeking has stifled innovation, perpetuating outdated regulatory concepts at a time of rapid market change. Different forces are at work now. Markets are complex and idiosyncratic; they may not be...

This paper deals with the proposed use of sovereign credit ratings in the Basel Accord on Capital Adequacy (Basel II) and considers its potential effect on emerging markets financing. It investigates in a first attempt the consequences of the planned revisions on the two central aspects of...