IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Abstract
The purpose of the article is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), drawing on case studies and empirical evidence. Harmonization of financial reporting in the public sector has been a significant accounting reform initiative in recent years. IPSAS have emerged as an international benchmark for evaluating these changes. This article reviews scientific literature on the transition to IPSAS in developing countries, analyzing how transition to IPSAS helps building accountability in public sector. The methods used include a systematic review of scientific articles, case studies, and reports from international organizations. The article aims to offer insights into the practical aspects of IPSAS adoption and to identify key factors that contribute to successful implementation.
References
International Public Sector Financial Accountability Index. Status Report 2021 https://www.ifac.org/knowledge-gateway/discussion/international-public-sector-financial-accountability-index-2020 (accessed April 15, 2025)
Towards accounting Harmonization in Europe: a multinational survey among budget experts, Schmidthuber at al., 2022, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0020852320915640 (accessed April 22, 2025)
Harmonizing public sector accounting in Europe: thinking out of the box. Rossi at al, 2016 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540962.2016.1133976 (accessed April 18, 2025)
Legitimating International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS): the case of Spain, Brusca at al., 2013 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540962.2013.836006 (accessed April 15, 2025)
Collective institutional entrepreneurship for the EPSAS program: The missing link, Argento at al, 2024, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540962.2024.2335637 (accessed May 05, 2025)
The institutionalization of public sector accounting reform: the role of pilot entities. Jorge at al, 2019 https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/jpbafm-08-2019-0125/full/html (accessed May12, 2025)
The Adoption and Implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards: The challenges faced by the United Nation in producing UN-IPSAS compliant financial reports in Kenya, Whitefield, A. A., & Savvas, P. (2016) https://iprjb.org/journals/index.php/IJFA/article/view/42?srsltid=AfmBOorxPTMj9zcw8ZZIPRlxMrlPgUFlz_Hb6hsrQ5-0a-JNVvcqAc8Z (accessed May 14, 2025)
International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and Credibility of Financial Reporting in Nigeria Public Sector: An Improvement or A Ruse, Olaoye & Talabi, 2018, https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/RJFA/article/view/43605/44921 (accessed May 10, 2025)
Culture, language and accounting reform: a new perspective on IPSAS implementation. Abdulkarim et al., 2023, https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/jaoc-01-2022-0006/full/html (accessed April 25, 2025)
Government Accounting System Reform and the Adoption of IPSAS in Iraq, Alshujairi, 2014, https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234630341.pdf (accessed May 17, 2025)
Examining the status of IPSAS adoption at the country level: an analysis of the OECD member states. Bekiaris & Paraponti, 2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360997104_Examining_the_status_of_IPSAS_adoption_at_the_country_level_an_analysis_of_the_OECD_member_states (accessed May 07, 2025)
New development: IPSAS adoption, from G20 countries to village governments in developing countries. Fahmid et al., 2020. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540962.2019.1617540 (accessed May 14, 2025)
“Does your walk match your talk?” Analyzing IPSASs diffusion in developing and developed countries. Polzer et al., 2020, https://repository.essex.ac.uk/25562/1/ijpsm_2019_accepted_version.pdf (accessed May 27, 2025)
Is implementing the IPSASs an appropriate reform? Hepworth, 2017, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540962.2016.1266174 (accessed May 25, 2025)
What emerging economies and low-income countries need to do before adopting IPSAS? Polzner at al, 2021 https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/governance/what-emerging-economies-and-low-income-countries-need-do-adopting-international-public (accessed May 25, 2025)
Afghanistan – Public sector accounting and auditing: a comparison to international standards, World Bank https://documentsinternal.worldbank.org/Search/8820389 (accessed May 14, 2025)
Connecting the PFM ecosystem: transitioning from cash-basis to accrual-basis accounting, D. Jensen, M. El-Chami, 2022, https://www.ifac.org/knowledge-gateway/discussion/connecting-pfm-ecosystem-transitioning-cash-basis-accrual-basis-accounting (accessed May 14, 2025)
Saudi Arabia achieves major financial milestone with IPSAS adoption, 2024, https://www.arabnews.com/node/2582261/business-economy (accessed May 22, 2025)
Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Assessment report, Kenya, 2022 https://www.pefa.org/node/5187 (accessed May 25, 2025)
The Public Sector Accounting and Reporting Program (PULSAR), Center for Financial Reporting Reform, World Bank, https://cfrr.worldbank.org/programs/pulsar (accessed May 14, 2025)
Book on Public Sector Accounting Reform Implementation Status in PULSAR Countries, 2021, Centre for Financial Reporting Reform, World Bank, https://cfrr.worldbank.org/index.php/publications/book-public-sector-accounting-reforms-implementation-status-pulsar-countries (accessed April 24, 2025)
Tawiah, V. The Effect of IPSAS Adoption on Governance Quality: Evidence from Developing and Developed Countries. Public Organiz Rev 23, 305–324 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-022-00625-w (accessed May 14, 2025)
Adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards in Emerging Economies and low-inclome countries: a structured literature review, T. Polzner at al, 2023, https://research.wu.ac.at/ws/portalfiles/portal/16985572/10-1108_JPBAFM-01-2021-0016.pdf (accessed May 04, 2025)
IPSAS implementation: current status and challenges, ACCA, 2017 https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/Technical/pubsect/pi-IPSAS-implementation-current-status-and-challenges.pdf (accessed April 17, 2025)
Issues and challenges in implementing International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS); Zakiah Saleh at al, 2021, https://jurnal.ipn.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1.-Issues-and-Challenges-in-Implementing-International-Public-Sector-Accounting-Standards-IPSAS.pdf (accessed May 11, 2025)
Smirnova I., Smirnova N. (2018). National and International Public Sector Accounting Standards: Features of Application. Scientific works of Kirovograd National Technical University. Economic Sciences. №33. 152-164pp.
Hevlych L. (2024). International Financial Reporting Standards for the Public Sector of Ukraine: Status and Prospects. Economics and Management Organization 80-89pp. DOI:https://doi.org/10.31558/2307-2318.2024.2.7.
Zenkler, N., Vyhivska, I., Makarovych, V. (2019). Trends in the development of accounting in the public sector: an international context. Problems of theory and methodology of accounting, control and analysis, (2(43), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.26642/pbo-2019-2(43)-75-81

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.