A final issue is relevance of the question(s) examined. It is probably safe to say that more financial accounting research has been conducted in the context of the United States than any other country in the world. Theoretical models have existed for decades, and detailed data to test those theories are generally available. One criticism of international accounting research is that it simply entails replicating U.S. results using a non-U.S. sample.I The importance of international accounting research is to offer new understanding (not statistical results) to the existing body of research.