Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis of IFRS implementation
elections reveals the existence of three distinct groupings with respect
to the level of IFRS implementation: IFRS antagonistic, IFRS leaning,
and IFRS integrated countries. The cluster of IFRS antagonistic countries
comprised largely of a core group of Continental European countries
influenced by German and French accounting practice. A second
group, which is IFRS leaning, encompasses chiefly UK-influenced and
Scandinavian countries. Primarily smaller and/or formerly communist
central and eastern European countries make up a third group of IFRS
integrated countries. Interestingly, several countries defy common
expectation, for instance, Italy and Greece, which are members of the
IFRS integrated group.