This paper examines summary annual reports (SAR) as an alternative channel for communicating financial information. We use a sample of New Zealand local government (councils) that are required to report audited SAR. Using various measures, we compare document length and readability of SAR and...

This article examines cost behaviour in a municipal (local government) setting and finds evidence of cost stickiness. We also find that costs are super-sticky as they increase even when revenues decrease. Municipals in New Zealand are required to produce forecasts, which allow us to investigate...