Third, this study has implications for auditors and accountants in countries where XBRL adoption has been mandated and in
those countrieswhereXBRL is currently being considered for adoption. The existing literature suggests that policy-making deliberations
and regulations in the accounting realm are predominantly driven by political rather than scientific objectives (see e.g. Francis,
2004). Our findings can thus provide a solid foundation to facilitate a change in this tradition, at least as it pertains to XBRL use.
More specifically, our findings can inform the business case for using XBRL in the regulatory sphere.