The benefits and costs of IFRS implementation in Poland – the investors’ perspective

Abstract

A number of earlier studies analysed the process as well as the consequences of implementing Interna- tional Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Poland. Prior research concentrated mainly on the impact of IFRS implementation on the financial reporting of companies in Poland and market reaction to the application of IFRS. Not much attention has been given to the attitudes of different groups of accounting information users and other interested parties towards the change of reporting standards in Poland. The aim of this study is to determine how investors perceive IFRS adoption by firms in Poland. Do they see any advantages of financial statements being prepared under IFRS and not under the Polish Accounting Act after more than 10 years from the introduction of the mandatory application of IFRS for certain companies? Has the application of IFRS to the preparation of financial statements increased the scope of useful financial information for investors? Has the quality of the information presented in financial state- ments changed in any way? Finally, should the mandate to use IFRS in Poland be extended? A survey was used to obtain answers to the above questions. In the opinion of investors, the adoption of IFRS for firms has increased the comparability and usefulness of financial statements and also enhanced the pro- tection of their interests but it has not contributed to their investment decisions or the possibility to make profit forecasts. The switch to IFRS – in the perception of the respondents – failed to reduce the infor- mation asymmetry between the external and internal users of accounting information. The impact of chang- ing accounting standards on capital market liquidity failed to be unequivocally assessed.

Keywords

• IFRS
• benefits
• costs
• investors
• survey