Making the Economic Agreement Between Gulf Countries Valuable: The Way Forward for the Harmonization of their Corporate Financial Reporting

Abstract

Economic agents tend to maximize their welfare given a set of information, and for investors, accounting data constitute an essential element of the set. Moreover, if this set is homogeneous, comparisons can easily be established, thus inflecting positively on allocation of resources. Although there is an economic agreement endorsed by the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, obstacles remain to be overcome, so as to fulfill the objectives of the agreement. It is argued in the present paper that, harmonization of accounting would, enhance the pace toward increasing trade and investment between these states. The present state of applying nondomestic accounting practices, is seen as a force which has the potentials of encouraging the Gulf states to develop their customized accounting practices. However, some forces may work in the opposite direction.