Impact of XBRL adoption on financial reporting quality: A global evidence

Purpose: In this paper, we examine the effect of XBRL adoption on financial reporting quality at the country-level (developing and developed countries). <br>Design/methodology: We use data from 98 developed and developing countries between 2005-2018. We collected data from various sources such as the World Economic Forum, World Development Indicators, World Governance Indicators and XBRL website. <br>Finding: Our results show that XBRL is associated with an increased financial reporting quality. However, the relationship is stronger in developing countries than in developed countries. We also find that the results remain the same after accounting for years of XBRL experience and the effect of accounting globalisation. The results are consistent with the assumption that XBRL formatted financial statements improve information efficiency through increased searching efficiency, quality of display, and comparability. Our results are robust to alternative econometric modifications such as controlling for country, year effects and endogeneity.<br>Implications: Our results can potentially assist the XBRL promoters and regulators in expeditiously assessing the benefits of XBRL and advocating its adoption by many countries. Our findings offer more motivations for regulators around the world to mandate this new filing standard format.<br>Originality: This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the consequences of XBRL at the country-level. The present study provides evidence on an important question of whether the XBRL, new information technology in the accounting field, can play a useful role in improving financial reporting.<br>