Political Influences on the IASB Accounting Standard-Setting: The Case of the Leases Standard

Abstract: This paper examines the role of powerful entities in shaping international accounting standards. The purpose of this thesis is to identify whether and to what extent the different actors influence changes in the leasing standard-setting process, and provide an in-depth understanding of the political influences throughout the development of the leasing accounting standard. In this paper the qualitative research strategy with an inductive view is applied. To examine the official documents, such as comment letters, content analysis, as a research method, was chosen. The theoretical framework is based on the model of bases of power in order to identify the key actors in the IASB standard-setting and the one-dimensional view of power in order to distinguish the influential actors. In addition to this, the accounting standard-setting process is explored by the lens of regulatory space, while also incorporating the tool of regulatory conversations. 25 key actors were identified based on the French and Raven’s (1959) power model. Next, those actors’ submitted comment letters were considered on the leases project stages of DP, ED and Re-ED. In total 18 actors engaged in the due process by sending comment letters, which formed the sample of 57 comment letters for the basis of the documentary analysis. This study reveals that the key actors over the IASB are various regulators, standard-setters, accounting firms and several representatives from profession and industry. No key actors seem to be outside the regulatory space. Some of the key actors significantly influence the standard, which are found attributable to the resources held by them. The findings also indicate that the involvement and positions of the key actors at such strategic times can dramatically affect the standard development.