Title: Culture and accounting practices in Turkey

Authors: Saeed Askary, Hassan Yazdifar, Davood Askarany

Addresses: School of Accounting, College of Business Administration, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi. ' Sheffield University Management School, The University of Sheffield, 9 Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 4DT, UK. ' Faculty of Business and Economics, Tamaki Campus, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of cultural values on accounting practices in Turkey by applying Gray|s theory (Gray, 1988) of socio-cultural factors on accounting values and practices. We compared the model of accounting with accounting-profession authority, the quality and uniformity of financial disclosures, and accounting measurements in present Turkey. This country is a unique case among developing countries because of its specific geopolitical and cultural features. Our results confirm Gray|s theory that high uncertainty avoidance and low individualism are positively associated with high conservative accounting measurements. In addition, the study confirms that the highest power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and the lower individualism are positively associated with accounting uniformity. However, large power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, and collectivisms negatively affect professionalism and financial disclosures.

Keywords: culture; financial disclosures; accounting measurements; professionalism; Turkey; accounting uniformity; accounting practices; cultural values; developing countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2008.020194

International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, 2008 Vol.5 No.1, pp.66 - 88

Published online: 08 Sep 2008 *

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