Does the IASB know the needs of SMEs? A comparative analysis between the IFRS for SMEs and full IFRS due processes

Abstract

Our research contributes to the limited literature on lobbying in accounting standards for SMEs by analysing all comment letters in the due process for the IFRS for SMEs (from 2004 to 2012) and comparing them to all of the 97 IASB’s projects related to full IFRS during the same period of time. Results confirm that the participation of preparers is significantly lower in the international accounting standardisation process for SMEs. Although this reduced participation is compensated by a higher participation of auditors, results also reveal that auditors do not match the interests of preparers in the case of the IFRS for SMEs. In conclusion, the IASB finds a limitation of the Institutional Theory (Meyer and Rowan, 1977) in the case of the IFRS for SMEs, drawing attention to the need of IASB for conducting further analysis about the real preferences, not only of specific users of the SMEs’ financial information, but also of SMEs. We finally suggest the relevance of the analysis of the needs of SMEs in developing countries, in line with the pronouncements of UNCTAD (2003).

Keywords

• IFRS for SMEs
• lobbying
• IASB
• due process
• developing countries