This report provides a summary of a research monograph sponsored by the ACCA (2001). The objective of the research is to examine the financial statements and footnotes of a worldwide sample of companies referring to the use of International Accounting Standards (IAS) to assess the extent of compliance and most importantly to provide evidence of the factors associated with compliance.

The major findings are that there is a significant extent of non-compliance with IAS, especially in the case of IAS disclosure requirements. Further, as regards factors associated with compliance with IAS disclosure requirements, there is a significant positive association with a U.S. listing/filing and/or non-regional listing, being in the commerce and transportation industry, referring exclusively to the use of IAS, being audited by a Big 5+2 firm, and being domiciled in China or Switzerland. Additionally, there is a significant negative association with being domiciled in France, Germany, or other Western European countries. As regards compliance with IAS measurement and presentation standards, there is a significant positive association with exclusive reference to the use of IAS, being audited by a Big 5+2 firm, and being domiciled in China. Additionally, there is a significant negative association with being domiciled in France or Africa.