This technical note and manual (TNM) explains what accrual accounting means for the public sector and discusses current trends in moving from cash to accrual accounting. It outlines factors governments should consider in preparing for the move and sequencing of the transition. The note...

This paper investigates how manipulating different earnings components will affect the likelihood of accounting-related shareholder litigation. Firms can manipulate earnings upward by accelerating revenue recognition, understating expenses, and overstating gains associated with special items....

Many governments have replaced traditional cash-based accounting with some form of accrual-based accounting system. However, empirical evidence on the effects of the public accounting system on fiscal policy is scarce. Following rules by the federal states, municipalities in Germany have adopted...

The purpose of our study is to further understand managerial incentives that affect the volatility of reported fiscal-year earnings. We do this by examining income smoothing based on pseudo fiscal years. For each firm, we create pseudo-year earnings using four consecutive quarters other than the...

This Technical Assistance Report discusses the technical advice and recommendations of the IMF mission to the authorities of Mauritius regarding implementation of an accrual accounting framework and the adoption of international standards. It is recommended that the International Public Sector...

When rights and obligations are not recognized as assets and liabilities on a government's balance sheet, the government's deficit can be reduced by selling off-balance-sheet assets or incurring off-balance-sheet liabilities. This paper examines how much progress has been made in recognizing...