Impact of Adopting International Financial Reporting Standards: Empirical Evidence from Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the impact of adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) on listed companies in Turkey was examined. We observed the financial statements that were prepared in accordance with IFRS and local GAAP and researched the standards which included more relevant information. We worked on the financial statements of the companies in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) that operated in the manufacturing industry. In our findings, we determined that the financial statements prepared in accordance with local GAAP and IFRS were statistically different. Significant differences were identified in inventories, fixed asset, long term liability and stockholders' equity accounts in the financial statements. In addition, current ratios, receivables turnover ratios, asset turnover ratios, total liabilities/tangible assets, fixed assets turnovers, equity turnover rates, short term liabilities/total debts and short term liabilities/total assets ratios based on IFRS financial statements were statistically and significantly distinguished from the stated ratios of local GAAP financial statements. We were unable to observe statistically significant differences in book value/market value ratio analysis depending on the market value under local GAAP and IFRS. However, in subsector analysis, we identified that some subsector groups have been affected from the transition to IFRS.