Title: The interrelation among accounting quality, timeliness and relevance

Authors: Alexis Kythreotis; Constantinos Constantinou

Addresses: Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, European University Cyprus, P.O. Box 22006, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus ' Department of Management and Marketing, European University Cyprus, P.O. Box 22006, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus

Abstract: The IASB generates the International Accounting Standards and the Conceptual Framework in an attempt to create higher quality financial statements. Through this article, the extent to which this objective has been achieved is examined. Specifically, one fundamental (relevance) and one enhancing (timeliness) qualitative characteristic, as set by the IAS Committee through the conceptual framework, are under study. The sample consists of listed companies of 15 European countries that have adopted IAS mandatorily. Generally, the obtained findings support an increase in the quality of the financial statements and indicate a positive relationship between relevance and earnings timeliness.

Keywords: accounting quality; relevance; timeliness; IFRS adoption; International Financial Reporting Standards; conceptual framework; International Accounting Standards; financial statements.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2016.078677

Global Business and Economics Review, 2016 Vol.18 No.5, pp.587 - 603

Received: 29 May 2014
Accepted: 10 Feb 2015

Published online: 01 Sep 2016 *

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