Jaan Alver () (Department of Accounting at Tallinn University of Technology)
Abstract
Accounting for financial instruments has been the most controversial area in the development of the IASB’s standards. The FASB and the IASB are currently working together towards a comprehensive standard of accounting for financial instruments with characteristics of equity, liability, or both. The main problem is how to distinguish liabilities from equity. According to the FASB, a new standard is necessary because current accounting literature addressing this issue is inconsistent, subject to structuring and difficult to understand and apply. This paper examines the current situation in classifying preferred stocks. A detailed comparison of common and preferred stocks, and debt securities and preferred stocks is then presented. Three theories of equity (proprietary theory, entity theory and residual equity theory) are described and compared, and the legal and economics approach to determining the difference between liabilities and equity are discussed. Finally, the IASB rules set up in IAS 32 and the Estonian rules set up in Commercial Code and accounting guideline RTJ 3 are discussed.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by School of Economics and Business Administration, Tallinn University of Technology in its series Working Papers with number
165.
Length: 15 Date of creation: 2007 Date of revision: Publication status: Published in Working Papers in Economics.School of Economics and Business Administration,Tallinn University of Technology (TUTWPE), Pages 41-55 Handle: RePEc:ttu:wpaper:165
Find related papers by JEL classification: K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Corporation and Securities Law M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting - - Accounting - - - Accounting
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