The Problem of Improving Financial Reporting

Abstract

Improving financial reporting calls for achieving a fine balance between codification of accounting rules, and development of norms whose enforcement depends on judgment about shared values and expectations in society. Over the past century, financial reporting has pursued codification in excess with unfortunate consequences. Development of mathematical finance, and concomitant financial engineering makes written rules of accounting almost instantaneously obsolete through creation of new transactions and instruments. A more open system in which multiple standard setting bodies compete with one another to attract following among the preparer and user communities may help keep financial reporting useful.