An International Meeting of the American Accounting Association American Accounting Association 2006 Annual Meeting August 6–9, 2006 Washington, D.C.

C. Richard Baker
Adelphi University

Elena M. Barbu
Université D'Orléans

Abstract: International harmonization of accounting standards has been the goal of many professional and academic accountants for at least the last half century. Commencing with January 1, 2005, the process of international accounting harmonization (IAH) has entered into a new and perhaps decisive phase. From that date, all companies domiciled in the European Union with shares listed on stock exchanges must prepare their consolidated accounts in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This landmark event presents an opportunity for accounting researchers to assess the status of research on IAH. In this paper, we review and analyze IAH research that has been published in major English language accounting journals from the early 1960s through 2004. We conclude that the historical evolution of IAH research reflects the trend towards institutional isomorphism that is also present in the process of international harmonization of accounting itself.

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