abstract
Based on extant literature, we review the positive theory of GAAP. The theory predicts
that GAAP’s principal focus is on control (performance measurement and stewardship)
and that verifiability and conservatism are critical features of a GAAP shaped by market
forces. We recognize the advantage of using fair values in circumstances where these
are based on observable prices in liquid secondary markets, but caution against
expanding fair values to financial reporting more generally. We conclude that rather
than converging U.S. GAAP with IFRS, competition between the FASB and the IASB
would allow GAAP to better respond to market forces