As discussed in Chapter 1, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) develops accounting standards for many international companies. The IASB also has developed a conceptual framework to help guide the setting of accounting standards. While the FASB and IASB have issued converged concepts statements on the objective and qualitative characteristics, other parts of their frameworks differ. Following is an excerpt of the IASB Framework.
Elements of Financial Statements
Asset: A resource controlled by the enterprise as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the enterprise.
Liability: A present obligation of the enterprise arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the enterprise of resources embodying economic benefits. Equity: The residual interest in the assets of the enterprise after deducting all its liabilities. Income: Increases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of inflows or enhancements of assets or decreases of liabilities that result in increases in equity, other than those relating to contributions from equity participants. Expenses: Decreases in economic benefits during the accounting period in the form of outflows or depletions of assets or incurrence’s of liabilities that result in decreases in equity, other than those relating to distributions to equity participants.
Instructions
Briefly discuss the similarities and differences between the FASB and IASB conceptual frameworks as revealed in the above excerpt.