The Fair Value Option

The concept of "fair value" marked a major departure from traditional cost accounting. In theory, under this approach a balance sheet that better reflects the current value of assets and liabilities. Critics of fair value argue that it is less useful over longer time frames and prone to distortion by market inefficiencies resulting in procyclicality in the financial system by exacerbating market swings. Comprising contributions from a unique mixture of academics, standard setters and practitioners, and edited by internationally recognized experts, this book, on a controversial and intensely debated topic, is a comprehensive reference source which: examines the use of fair value in international financial reporting standards and the US standard SFAS 157 Fair Value Measurement, setting out the case for and against looks at fair value from a number of different theoretical and practical perspectives, including a critical review of the merits and arguments against the use of fair value accounting explores fair value accounting in practice, involvement in the Great Financial Crisis, implications for managerial reporting discretion, compensation and investment This volume is an indispensable reference that is deserving of a place on the bookshelves of both libraries and all those working in, studying, or researching the areas of international accounting, financial accounting and reporting.

The most comprehensive guide to FASB Codifications, updated with the latest pronouncements Wiley GAAP 2020 is the essential resource for US GAAP implementation. Covering all codifications by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) - including the latest updates - this book provides clear explanations and practical examples for real-world application of these dynamic guidelines. Each chapter includes relevant sources of GAAP and expert guidance on interpretation, terminology, relevant concepts, and applicable rules, while in-depth discussion on the issues surrounding specific pronouncements offers informative perspective for a variety of scenarios. Staying up-to-date with constantly-evolving guidelines is a challenge. Wiley GAAP 2020 provides the guidance, insight, and perspective accounting professionals need to ensure accurate and up-to-date GAAP implementation.

This book explores theoretical and practical implications of reflecting the fair value of liabilities for insurance companies. In addition, the contributions discuss the disclosure of these values to the financial and regulatory communities and auditing firms which are actually calculating this illusive but important variable. It combines contributions by distinguished practitioners from the insurance, accounting and finance fields, with those of prominent academics. One of the central themes of the collection is that adequate disclosure of the true economic value of insurance company liabilities is both possible and desirable. Wherever possible, the insurance valuation process is wedded with modern financial theory. For example, the use of option pricing theory is applied to insurance companies, where the true value of the firm's liabilities is a critical variable. Methods such as cash flow, earned profit and indirect discount are explored.