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Has Business Segment Disclosures under SFAS No. 131 Improved in the Last Ten Years? (2013-2004)

Author

Listed:
  • Robert D Bell

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine if business segment disclosures under SFAS No. 131 has improved in ther last ten years. The paper analyzes ten years (2013-2004) of segment disclosures of 200 of the Fortune 500 listed companies reporting under SFAS No. 131. For each of these ten years, the anlysis specifically includes the number of segments reported; the number of companies which changed the name of one or more of their segments; the actual number of line-items reported for each segment; the general catagory of line-items reported for each segment; the number of geographic areas reported; the names of the geographic areas reported; and the names of the countries reported;. The paper finds that segment disclosure practices have remained virtually unchanged over this ten year period -- thus calling into question whether SFAS No. 131 is truly achieving its purpose, as the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) stated it is in its January of 2013 post-implimentation review (PIR) of SFAS No. 131.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert D Bell, 2015. "Has Business Segment Disclosures under SFAS No. 131 Improved in the Last Ten Years? (2013-2004)," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 4(2), pages 1-78, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:jfr:afr111:v:4:y:2015:i:2:p:78
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Philip G. Berger & Rebecca Hann, 2003. "The Impact of SFAS No. 131 on Information and Monitoring," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(2), pages 163-223, May.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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