Title: A 'macro' analysis of the use of XBRL

Authors: Aminah Abdullah, Iqbal Khadaroo, Junaid M. Shaikh

Addresses: Belfast Metropolitan College, B. Gerald Moag Campus, Millfield, Belfast BT1 1HS, UK. ' School of Management and Economics, Queen's University, BT7 1NN, Belfast, UK. ' Department of Accounting, School of Business, Sarawak Campus (Off Shore Campus), Curtin University of Technology, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract: eXtensible business reporting language (XBRL) is increasingly used for reporting to shareholders, filing with stock exchange regulators and for decision making and taxation purposes. This paper provides a macro analysis of the use of XBRL in the USA and UK and highlights some directions for further research. It finds that the pace of XBRL adoption across countries and industries varies. The country analysis suggests that there has been greater support and adoption of XBRL in the USA as compared to the UK. Moreover, XBRL seems to be widely used in the financial services sector as compared to others. This paper identifies several areas for research at the macro country and industry level and the micro company level. It is argued that greater support from the accounting profession and regulators is required to raise XBRL awareness and speed the pace of adoption in practice.

Keywords: eXtensible Business Reporting Language; XBRL adoption; USA; UK; accounting; regulation; United States; United Kingdom; financial services.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMFA.2008.021243

International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.213 - 223

Published online: 13 Nov 2008 *

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