The evidence reported above shows that IFRS convergence
increased the value relevance of earnings more for firms with the
most need to attract capital from external investors (ie those
firms with low or no government subsidy). This in turn suggests
that the adoption of IFRS-converged CAS may have served to
narrow the gap in competitiveness across firms with varying
degrees of government support under state-sponsored capitalism
in China. Given China’s increasing prominence in the world
economy, the experience of IFRS convergence in China has useful
implications for other transitional and emerging economies. Even
so, the conclusion that the IFRS convergence had generally
beneficial effects on value relevance does not apply for firms in or
close to ST status. Arguably, this is because the scope for
earnings managements is increased under the principles-based
approach to financial reporting heralded by IFRS convergence.