Conditions and impact of IPSAS adoption by emerging economies and developing countries – a literature review

Abstract

From the adoption of IPSAS [International Public Sector Accounting Standards] is expected to improve public sector financial reporting, through increased reliability, transparency, comparability and relevance of financial information. This article presents a general literature review on the adoption of IPSAS by countries, considering that the process of economic globalization increasingly reinforces the importance of harmonizing accounting practices and principles. Focus is given to the situation of emerging economies and developing countries, namely the difficulties and barriers, as well as the benefits associated with the transition process. Methodologically, the research was carried out in repositories of scientific and technical information. This article offers a starting point for more in-depth empirical investigations in this field, particularly on various aspects related to the transition from public accounting in emerging economies and developing countries to accrual accounting based on IPSAS, identifying some research gaps.