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Economic and accounting rates of return

Author

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  • Feenstra, D.W.
  • Wang, H.

    (Groningen University)

Abstract

The rate of return on invested capital is a central concept in financial analysis. The purpose of calculating the rate of return on investment in general is to measure the financial performance, to assess the desirability of a project and to make decisions on the valuation of firms. Financial statement users make regular use of the accounting rate of return (ARR) rather than the economic rate of return (IRR) to assess the performance of corporations and public-sector enterprises, to evaluate capital investment projects, and to price financial claims such as shares. Since ARR measures are based on published accounting statements, there has been a long and sometimes heated debate as to whether such measures have any economic significance. This paper aims to provide a summary of the economic and accounting rates of return discussions in the literature. We analyze the concepts of ARR and IRR and explore possible relationships between them. We extend the previous studies in this line to provide more specific relations of IRR and ARR.

Suggested Citation

  • Feenstra, D.W. & Wang, H., 2000. "Economic and accounting rates of return," Research Report 00E42, University of Groningen, Research Institute SOM (Systems, Organisations and Management).
    • Handle: RePEc:gro:rugsom:00e42
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    File URL: http://irs.ub.rug.nl/ppn/240961587
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Magni, Carlo Alberto, 2009. "Splitting up value: A critical review of residual income theories," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 198(1), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Magni, Carlo Alberto, 2016. "Capital depreciation and the underdetermination of rate of return: A unifying perspective," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 54-79.
    3. Carlo Alberto Magni, 2009. "Accounting and economic measures:An integrated theory of capital budgeting," Centro Studi di Banca e Finanza (CEFIN) (Center for Studies in Banking and Finance) 0019, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Economia "Marco Biagi".
    4. Carlo Alberto Magni, 2021. "Economic profitability and (non)additivity of residual income," Annals of Finance, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 471-499, December.
    5. Rodrigo M Zeidan & Marcelo Resende, 2010. "Accounting and Economic Rates of Return: A Dynamic Econometric Investigation," Brazilian Review of Finance, Brazilian Society of Finance, vol. 8(1), pages 69-84.
    6. Rojo-Ramírez Alfonso A., 2014. "Privately Held Company Valuation and Cost of Capital," Journal of Business Valuation and Economic Loss Analysis, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Carlo Alberto Magni & Ken V. Peasnell, 2015. "The Term Structure of Capital Values:An accounting-based framework for measuring economic profitability," Department of Economics 0060, University of Modena and Reggio E., Faculty of Economics "Marco Biagi".
    8. Alfonso A. Rojo Ramírez & Maria J. Martínez Romero, 2018. "Required and obtained equity returns in privately held businesses: the impact of family nature—evidence before and after the global economic crisis," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 771-801, July.
    9. David S. Evans & Richard Schmalensee, 2013. "The Antitrust Analysis of Multi-Sided Platform Businesses," NBER Working Papers 18783, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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