Indulgence versus Restraint
(IVR)
The indulgence versus restraint dimension consists of two poles. Indulgence stands for a tendency to
allow relatively free gratification of basic and natural human desires related to enjoying life and having
fun, and the opposite pole. Restraint reflects a conviction that such gratification needs to be curbed and
regulated by strict norms.
Gray Accounting Value Dimensions
Extending the concepts of Hofstede’s original four dimensions to accounting, Gray suggests that
accounting values are derived from such cultural dimensions and, in turn, influence accounting systems. Gray
identifies four key accounting values or dimensions. (Gray, 1988) These four accounting dimensions are
summarized in Table 5.
Table 5: Gray’s Four Accounting Value Dimensions
Dimension Description
Professionalism versus
Statutory Control
Refers to professional judgment and self-regulation in contrast to compliance with rigid legal
requirements and legislative control.
Uniformity versus
Flexibility
Refers to the level of enforcement of standardized and consistent accounting practices.
Conservatism versus
Optimism
Refers to a vigilant approach to accounting measurement, as opposed to a more optimistic and risktaking
approach.
Secrecy versus
Transparency
Refers to confidentiality and the constraint of disclosure of information, as opposed to a more
transparent and publicly accountable approach.
Gray offered four hypotheses to explicate the relationship between his own culturally based accounting
dimensions and Hofstede’s original four cultural value dimensions. These hypotheses are summarized in Table 6.