A counter argument, however, suggests that for many countries,
introduction of IFRS has involved a shift from a rules-based system to a
principles-based system requiring frequent judgment and use of private
information on the part of management (Jeanjean and Stolowy, 2008).
Critics argue that the need to apply judgment and discretion presents
managers with opportunities to pursue ulterior reporting motives by
managing earnings (and other accounting amounts) in ways that reduce
their information value to investors. Van Tendeloo and Vanstraelen (2005)
report evidence consistent with this prediction. They find that voluntary
IFRS adopters in Germany have higher levels of earnings management
than companies reporting under German accounting standards