What Explains Variation In SegmentReporting? Evidence From KuwaitMishari M. Alfaraih, The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, KuwaitFaisal S. Alanezi, The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, KuwaitABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to evaluate both the segment disclosure practice of firms listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) and the factors that influence their level of segment disclosures.Consistent with prior disclosure research, the level of segment disclosure is examined using a disclosure index based on the mandatory requirements of International Accounting Standard (IAS)14 (Segment Reporting). The results show that the average level of segment disclosure in a sample of 123 KSE-listed firms in 2008 was 56%%, ranging from 18% to 94%. Users of KSE-listed firms’ financial statements might reasonably expect greater segment disclosures from larger, older, highly leveraged, and profitable KSE-listed firms, as well as from firms audited by a Big-4 audit firm. The findings provide feedback to the regulatory and enforcement bodies in Kuwait on current segment disclosure practice among KSE-listed companies and the factors that influence the level of segment disclosures. The noticeable variation in the level ofsegment disclosure among listed firms suggests a need for further monitoring of the enforcement of required segment disclosure.Keywords: segment reporting; IAS 14; information disclosure; Kuwait1. INTRODUCTIONconsolidated financial statement provides information about a firms overall profitability, risk, and growth potential. However, with the growing diversification and complexity of business enterprises,investors and investment analysts have sought more value-relevant information in order to make informed investment decisions. Investors and analysts need to understand how the various components of a diversified firm behave economically. It is difficult, if not impossible, for investors and analysts to predict the overall amounts, timing, and risks of a complete firm‘s future cash flows without desegregation, therefore segmental information is essential to investment analysis (AIMR, 1993). Berger and Hann (2002) argue that disaggregated information is extremely useful and important to financial statement users. A survey conducted by Epstein and Palepu (1999) of 140 star sell-side analysts reveals that most analysts consider segment-performance information to be the most useful for their investment decisions.Recognizing the critical role of segmental information in helping investors make economic decisions, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) established the International Accounting Standard (IAS) 14 (Segment Reporting). The objective of IAS 1 4 is to establish principles for reporting financial information according to a firm‘s line of business and geographical area to help users of financial statements better understand a firm‘s past performance; this allows a better assessment of a firm‘s risks and returns; and provides users with sufficient information to make informed judgments about a firm as whole (IASB, 2008).Prior research has highlighted a number of problem areas on segment reporting, however, particularly in managerial discretion in segment-information disclosure (Street et al., 2000). Prather-Kinsey and Meek (2004) argue that firms respond to segment-reporting disclosure but do not wholly embrace it, which results in substantial noncompliance. Birt et al. (2007) argue that the corporate failures involving the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in Australia, the United States, and elsewhere that captured the world‘s attention in the early twenty-first century highlighted the vital role of disclosure and compliance. However, users of financial statements have long
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