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Accounting

Singapore Management University

2001

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An Investigation Of Goodwill Accounting Policy Choice Within A Specific Knowledge Framework, Pearl H. N. Tan Jun 2001

An Investigation Of Goodwill Accounting Policy Choice Within A Specific Knowledge Framework, Pearl H. N. Tan

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

This study, using Singapore data, investigates the relationship between Chief Executive Officers' (CEO) specific knowledge and the accounting method choice on capitalisation of goodwill. International Accounting Standard 22 (1987), applicable in Singapore in 1996, the year of the study, permits a choice between capitalisation with subsequent amortisation and immediate write-off of goodwill to reserves. This study proposes a positive relationship between human capital specificity of CEOs and the recognition of purchased goodwill on the balance sheet. Specific knowledge is unique to firms and is acquired through experience. Given that specialised assets arise from firm-specific circumstances, firm-specific knowledge potentially explains the …