It is generally accepted that the economy is divided in two parts: the monetary economy and the non-monetary or real economy. It is also generally accepted that there are two basic economic items in the economy: monetary items and non-monetary items. Monetary items are money held and items with an underlying monetary nature. Non-monetary items are all items that are not monetary items.
No distinction is generally made between the valuation of variable real value non-monetary items, e.g. property, plant, equipment, inventory, etc valued at Historical Cost and constant real value non-monetary items, e.g. Issued Share capital, Retained Earnings, other items in Shareholders´ Equity and most items in the income statement (excluding items like salaries, wages, rents, etc. valued in units of constant purchasing power or inflation-adjusted) also valued at Historical Cost.
This is the result of the fact that the economy is based on the Historical Cost paradigm. Historical Cost is the traditional measurement basis in accounting. It is thus generally accepted for accountants to choose to implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption during non-hyperinflationary periods.
One of the basic principles in accounting is “The Measuring Unit principle: The unit of measure in accounting shall be the base money unit of the most relevant currency. This principle also assumes the unit of measure is stable; that is, changes in its general purchasing power are not considered sufficiently important to require adjustments to the basic financial statements.”
Paul H. Walgenbach, Norman E. Dittrich and Ernest I. Hanson, (1973), Financial Accounting, New York: Harcourt Brace Javonovich, Inc. Page 429.
Non-monetary items are not all fundamentally the same. Non-monetary items are subdivided into variable real value non-monetary items and constant real value non-monetary items. The three fundamentally different basic economic items are, in fact, monetary items, variable items and constant items although it is generally accepted that there are only two basic economic items, namely, monetary and non-monetary items.
Accountants regard all non-monetary items stated at Historical Cost, whether they are variable real value non-monetary HC items or constant real value non-monetary HC items to be fundamentally the same, namely, non-monetary items – or, items that are not monetary items - when they implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the traditional HCA model during non-hyperinflationary periods.
This is the result of money illusion. People make the mistake of thinking that money is stable in real value in a low inflationary environment. Inflation always destroys the real value of money over time. It is thus impossible for money to be stable in real value during inflation.
On the other hand, inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items over time.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Fraternizing with the enemy
Whereas inflation is SA´s public enemy No 1, SA accountant’s stable measuring unit assumption is public enemy No 2.
SA accountants proudly live up to their deserved reputation as trusted custodians of real value in the case of the constant items salaries and wages. They very responsibly admit that the real value of salaries and wages would be destroyed if the destruction of the real value of the unstable medium of exchange in SA, the always depreciating Rand, is not compensated for by valuing remuneration items in units of constant purchasing power; i.e., inflation-adjusting them in a low inflation environment. They vigorously reject the stable measuring unit assumption in the case of salaries and wages.
Retained Profits are constant items exactly the same as salaries and wages. When it comes to valuing Retained Profits and other balance sheet constant items, SA accountants slavishly follow their mentor’s advice and implement their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption whereby they now suddenly ASSUME that the Rand is perfectly stable and always had been perfectly stable. They refuse point blank to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as the IASB has authorized them to do 20 years ago. They thus unknowingly and unintentionally destroy the real value of Retained Profits in all SA companies at a rate equal to the rate of inflation. Thus unnecessary destruction of real value in constant items never updated amounts to about R200 billion per annum in the SA real economy.
Financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) in 1989 means inflation-adjusting all constant item accounts – income statement and balance sheet constant items – in a low inflation environment.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission.
SA accountants proudly live up to their deserved reputation as trusted custodians of real value in the case of the constant items salaries and wages. They very responsibly admit that the real value of salaries and wages would be destroyed if the destruction of the real value of the unstable medium of exchange in SA, the always depreciating Rand, is not compensated for by valuing remuneration items in units of constant purchasing power; i.e., inflation-adjusting them in a low inflation environment. They vigorously reject the stable measuring unit assumption in the case of salaries and wages.
Retained Profits are constant items exactly the same as salaries and wages. When it comes to valuing Retained Profits and other balance sheet constant items, SA accountants slavishly follow their mentor’s advice and implement their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption whereby they now suddenly ASSUME that the Rand is perfectly stable and always had been perfectly stable. They refuse point blank to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as the IASB has authorized them to do 20 years ago. They thus unknowingly and unintentionally destroy the real value of Retained Profits in all SA companies at a rate equal to the rate of inflation. Thus unnecessary destruction of real value in constant items never updated amounts to about R200 billion per annum in the SA real economy.
Financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) in 1989 means inflation-adjusting all constant item accounts – income statement and balance sheet constant items – in a low inflation environment.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission.
Monday, 31 August 2009
White elephant at fancy dress party
Inflation is undoubtedly SA´s public enemy No 1.
Luckily we have had Tito Mboweni (Julius, Mboweni is BLACK, please don’t forget that!!) over the last 10 years reducing the destruction of the real value of the Rand and all other monetary items to an annual average of 6% in the SA monetary economy.
That is half the 12% annual average during the last 12 years of WHITE apartheid rule.
With a 1% drop in inflation being equal to maintaining R20 billion in the real value of the Rand PER ANNUM it means that Tito maintained on average AN ADDITIONAL R120 billion PER ANNUM in the SA monetary economy. This will carry on into the future as long as average annual inflation stays at 6% or below.
This will have a permanent effect on the SA economy as a whole.
Let’s hope Gill Marcus can get it down another 3% to the bottom level of the SARB´s inflation targeting range. (Julius, not because she is WHITE, but because that would be very good for everyone in South Africa. Tito got it down to 6% now we should go lower. We should expect that from whoever is the next Governor of the SARB, whether this person is blue, orange or purple.)
That would maintain another R60 billion PER ANNUM in the SA monetary economy for as long as inflation can be maintained below 3% per annum.
Good luck to Gill Marcus.
Every year she achieves that, we can have a fancy dress party and go dressed/coloured in gold, platinum and sterling silver. Julius Malema has a standing invitation. He can come as a white elephant.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Luckily we have had Tito Mboweni (Julius, Mboweni is BLACK, please don’t forget that!!) over the last 10 years reducing the destruction of the real value of the Rand and all other monetary items to an annual average of 6% in the SA monetary economy.
That is half the 12% annual average during the last 12 years of WHITE apartheid rule.
With a 1% drop in inflation being equal to maintaining R20 billion in the real value of the Rand PER ANNUM it means that Tito maintained on average AN ADDITIONAL R120 billion PER ANNUM in the SA monetary economy. This will carry on into the future as long as average annual inflation stays at 6% or below.
This will have a permanent effect on the SA economy as a whole.
Let’s hope Gill Marcus can get it down another 3% to the bottom level of the SARB´s inflation targeting range. (Julius, not because she is WHITE, but because that would be very good for everyone in South Africa. Tito got it down to 6% now we should go lower. We should expect that from whoever is the next Governor of the SARB, whether this person is blue, orange or purple.)
That would maintain another R60 billion PER ANNUM in the SA monetary economy for as long as inflation can be maintained below 3% per annum.
Good luck to Gill Marcus.
Every year she achieves that, we can have a fancy dress party and go dressed/coloured in gold, platinum and sterling silver. Julius Malema has a standing invitation. He can come as a white elephant.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Friday, 28 August 2009
Constant purchasing power
Variable Items during low inflation and deflation
Variable items, eg. property, plant, equipment, inventories, quoted and unquoted shares, foreign exchange, etc are valued in terms of IFRS or SA GAAP during low inflation and deflation at, for example, market value, fair value, present value, recoverable value, net realizable value, etc.
They are not valued by anyone in units of constant purchasing power during low inflation and deflation.
Variable items during hyperinflation
Variable items are required by the IASB to be valued in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation in terms of IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies by inflation-adjusting their nominal values in terms of the change in the CPI.
Does this affect the nature of the underlying resources? Yes it does.
Turkey was in hyperinflation in 2004.
“In 2004, financial statements were restated and taxes were taken based on restated values.” Dr Cemal KÜÇÜKSÖZEN, Head of Accounting Standards Department, Capital Markets Board of Turkey.
Brazilian accountants valued non-monetary items in the entire Brazilian economyin units of constant purchasing power by inflation-adjusting them by means of variosindeces during various different governments during the 30 years from 1964 to 1994 thus maintaining their real values constant according to the Central Bank of Brazil.
Yes, to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power does affect the nature of the underlying resources.
The choices accountants make do change those values and do affect the economy: see Brazil and Trukey above.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Variable items, eg. property, plant, equipment, inventories, quoted and unquoted shares, foreign exchange, etc are valued in terms of IFRS or SA GAAP during low inflation and deflation at, for example, market value, fair value, present value, recoverable value, net realizable value, etc.
They are not valued by anyone in units of constant purchasing power during low inflation and deflation.
Variable items during hyperinflation
Variable items are required by the IASB to be valued in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation in terms of IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies by inflation-adjusting their nominal values in terms of the change in the CPI.
Does this affect the nature of the underlying resources? Yes it does.
Turkey was in hyperinflation in 2004.
“In 2004, financial statements were restated and taxes were taken based on restated values.” Dr Cemal KÜÇÜKSÖZEN, Head of Accounting Standards Department, Capital Markets Board of Turkey.
Brazilian accountants valued non-monetary items in the entire Brazilian economyin units of constant purchasing power by inflation-adjusting them by means of variosindeces during various different governments during the 30 years from 1964 to 1994 thus maintaining their real values constant according to the Central Bank of Brazil.
Yes, to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power does affect the nature of the underlying resources.
The choices accountants make do change those values and do affect the economy: see Brazil and Trukey above.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Breaking news R5.879 billion additional loss at Eskom
Besides the R9.708 billion after tax loss reported in the 2009 Annual Report, Eskom lost another R5.879 billion in the real value of its Accumulated Profits from March 2008 till July 2009. This amount was unknowingly and unintentionally destroyed in the real value of Eskom´s Accumulated Profits by the accountants at Eskom implementing the stable measuring unit assumption.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Disinflation (inflation at a slower rate) continues in the SA monetary economy.
Disinflation (inflation at a slower rate) continues in the SA monetary economy.
The general increase in consumer prices in SA over the 12 months to the end of July, 2009 only led to the destruction on average of 6.7% of the real value of the Rand and all other monetary items in the SA monetary economy compared to 6.9% in the 12 month period to the end of June, 2009.
SA accountants unknowingly also only destroyed 6.7% of the real value of all Retained Profits in SA companies and SA banks over the 12 months to July, 2009 compared to the 6.9% in real value they were unknowingly destroying in all constant items never updated in the SA real economy in the 12 months to June, 2009.
The time it takes to destroy 50% of the real value of current Retained Profits stays at 11 years.
This unknowing destruction by SA accountants amounts to about R200 billion PER ANNUM.
This was because of their implementation of their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption and their refusal to change over to measuring financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as they were authorized to do 20 years ago by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) which states:
“Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power.”
Two of the “hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction” as described by John Maynard Keynes thus had a slightly lesser destructive effect on the SA economy in the year to end July, 2009.
Cumulative inflation since April 1994 came to 166.5% in July, 2009.
62.5% of all the real value of Retained Profits in SA companies and banks in April, 1994 whichremained in Retained Profits till July, 2009 have thus been unknowingly and unintentionally been destroyed by SA accountants implementing their stable measuring unit assumption by which they assume cumulative inflation over that period was zero percent.
So too the real value of issued share capital of all SA companies with no fixed assets over that period.
Cumulative inflation since Jan 1981 came to 1382.2% in July, 2009.
93.3% of all the real value of Retained Profits in SA companies and banks in Jan, 1981 which remained in Retained Profits till July, 2009 have thus been unknowingly and unintentionally been destroyed by SA accountants implementing their stable measuring unit assumption by which they assume cumulative inflation over that period was zero percent.
So too the real value of issued share capital of all SA companies with no fixed assets over that period.
We all know that our accountants can freely stop their silly and very destructive stable measuring unit assumption any time they want.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission.
The general increase in consumer prices in SA over the 12 months to the end of July, 2009 only led to the destruction on average of 6.7% of the real value of the Rand and all other monetary items in the SA monetary economy compared to 6.9% in the 12 month period to the end of June, 2009.
SA accountants unknowingly also only destroyed 6.7% of the real value of all Retained Profits in SA companies and SA banks over the 12 months to July, 2009 compared to the 6.9% in real value they were unknowingly destroying in all constant items never updated in the SA real economy in the 12 months to June, 2009.
The time it takes to destroy 50% of the real value of current Retained Profits stays at 11 years.
This unknowing destruction by SA accountants amounts to about R200 billion PER ANNUM.
This was because of their implementation of their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption and their refusal to change over to measuring financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as they were authorized to do 20 years ago by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) which states:
“Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power.”
Two of the “hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction” as described by John Maynard Keynes thus had a slightly lesser destructive effect on the SA economy in the year to end July, 2009.
Cumulative inflation since April 1994 came to 166.5% in July, 2009.
62.5% of all the real value of Retained Profits in SA companies and banks in April, 1994 whichremained in Retained Profits till July, 2009 have thus been unknowingly and unintentionally been destroyed by SA accountants implementing their stable measuring unit assumption by which they assume cumulative inflation over that period was zero percent.
So too the real value of issued share capital of all SA companies with no fixed assets over that period.
Cumulative inflation since Jan 1981 came to 1382.2% in July, 2009.
93.3% of all the real value of Retained Profits in SA companies and banks in Jan, 1981 which remained in Retained Profits till July, 2009 have thus been unknowingly and unintentionally been destroyed by SA accountants implementing their stable measuring unit assumption by which they assume cumulative inflation over that period was zero percent.
So too the real value of issued share capital of all SA companies with no fixed assets over that period.
We all know that our accountants can freely stop their silly and very destructive stable measuring unit assumption any time they want.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission.
Money cannot be valued in units of constant purchasing power
Units of constant purchasing power
There are three basic economic items in the economy:
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items
We will analyse the possibility and the effect of valuing items in units of constant purchasing power in each case.
Monetary items
Inflation only destroys the real value of money and other monetary items over time.
Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items.
Money and other monetary items´ real values are destroyed at the rate of inflation over time in a low inflationary and in a hyperinflationary environment.
SA accountants VALUE money and other monetary items in nominal monetary units during the current financial period since that is the only way in which they can be valued under any accounting model.
It is impossible to update, inflation-adjust or restate money and other monetary items during the current financial period during low inflation, hyperinflation or deflation.
It is impossible to inflation-adjust money and other monetary items during the current financial period by means of units of constant purchasing power during low inflation, hyperinflation or deflation.
SA accountants can only VALUE monetary items in nominal monetary units, eg. bank account balances, capital amounts of bank loans, capital amounts of bank savings, car loans, housing loans, consumer loans, student loans, all other monetary loans, etc.
Monetary items cannot be valued in units of constant purchasing power during the current financial period under any accounting model.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
There are three basic economic items in the economy:
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items
We will analyse the possibility and the effect of valuing items in units of constant purchasing power in each case.
Monetary items
Inflation only destroys the real value of money and other monetary items over time.
Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items.
Money and other monetary items´ real values are destroyed at the rate of inflation over time in a low inflationary and in a hyperinflationary environment.
SA accountants VALUE money and other monetary items in nominal monetary units during the current financial period since that is the only way in which they can be valued under any accounting model.
It is impossible to update, inflation-adjust or restate money and other monetary items during the current financial period during low inflation, hyperinflation or deflation.
It is impossible to inflation-adjust money and other monetary items during the current financial period by means of units of constant purchasing power during low inflation, hyperinflation or deflation.
SA accountants can only VALUE monetary items in nominal monetary units, eg. bank account balances, capital amounts of bank loans, capital amounts of bank savings, car loans, housing loans, consumer loans, student loans, all other monetary loans, etc.
Monetary items cannot be valued in units of constant purchasing power during the current financial period under any accounting model.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Units of constant purchasing power for dummies
The two confirmed disbelievers in this area are the accounting professor and Market Monkey.
The accounting professor states:
“So its fine to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power and to argue that that would be a better method than using historic cost and maintaining a fiction as to the stability of the measuring unit - but that doesn't affect the nature of the underlying resources.”
Market Monkey says he is dead right.
The accounting professor and Market Monkey are both dead wrong.
Units of constant purchasing power
Inflation can only destroy the real value of money and other monetary items over time. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items.
Stating or valuing economic items in nominal monetary units over time thus means that the real values of these items will be destroyed over time in an inflationary environment if they are monetary items or if they are treated as monetary items.
Valuing constant real value non-monetary items, eg. salaries, wages, etc., in units of constant purchasing power over time means that the real value of these items will be maintained constant over time since the nominal values are inflation-adjusted by means of the Consumer Price Index over time. This is the case with salaries and wages in South Africa. Everybody including the accounting professor and Market Monkey understand that.
There are three basic economic items in the economy:
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items
We will analyse the possibility and the effect of valuing items in units of constant purchasing power in each case.
Monetary items
It is impossible to update or inflation-adjust money and other monetary items during the current financial period during low inflation or hyperinflation.
It is thus impossible to inflation-adjust money and other monetary items by means of units of constant purchasing power during low inflation or hyperinflation.
SA accountants can only VALUE monetary items in nominal monetary units, eg. bank account balances, capital amounts of bank loans, capital amounts of bank savings, car loans, housing loans, consumer loans, student loans, all other monetary loans, etc.
Since monetary items can ONLY be VALUED by SA accountants in nominal monetary units it also appears as if they in this case simply report on what happened in the past as the accounting professor and Market Monkey believe.
Monetary items thus cannot be valued in units of constant purchasing power during the current financial period.
The accounting professor, Market Monkey and I all agree on this item.
Sorry, no bun fight in the monetary item area.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
The accounting professor states:
“So its fine to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power and to argue that that would be a better method than using historic cost and maintaining a fiction as to the stability of the measuring unit - but that doesn't affect the nature of the underlying resources.”
Market Monkey says he is dead right.
The accounting professor and Market Monkey are both dead wrong.
Units of constant purchasing power
Inflation can only destroy the real value of money and other monetary items over time. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items.
Stating or valuing economic items in nominal monetary units over time thus means that the real values of these items will be destroyed over time in an inflationary environment if they are monetary items or if they are treated as monetary items.
Valuing constant real value non-monetary items, eg. salaries, wages, etc., in units of constant purchasing power over time means that the real value of these items will be maintained constant over time since the nominal values are inflation-adjusted by means of the Consumer Price Index over time. This is the case with salaries and wages in South Africa. Everybody including the accounting professor and Market Monkey understand that.
There are three basic economic items in the economy:
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items
We will analyse the possibility and the effect of valuing items in units of constant purchasing power in each case.
Monetary items
It is impossible to update or inflation-adjust money and other monetary items during the current financial period during low inflation or hyperinflation.
It is thus impossible to inflation-adjust money and other monetary items by means of units of constant purchasing power during low inflation or hyperinflation.
SA accountants can only VALUE monetary items in nominal monetary units, eg. bank account balances, capital amounts of bank loans, capital amounts of bank savings, car loans, housing loans, consumer loans, student loans, all other monetary loans, etc.
Since monetary items can ONLY be VALUED by SA accountants in nominal monetary units it also appears as if they in this case simply report on what happened in the past as the accounting professor and Market Monkey believe.
Monetary items thus cannot be valued in units of constant purchasing power during the current financial period.
The accounting professor, Market Monkey and I all agree on this item.
Sorry, no bun fight in the monetary item area.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Accounting professor is dead wrong - Part 2
Continuing from yesterday’s blog:
The Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements Par. 104 (a) was approved by the International Accounting Standards Board’s predecessor body, the International Accounting Standards Committee Board, in April 1989 for publication in July 1989 and adopted by the IASB in April 2001.
SA accountants who prepare their companies´ accounts based on International Financial Reporting Standards during low inflation have to choose between Historical Cost Accounting and Constant ITEM Purchasing Power Accounting in terms of Par. 104 (a) which states:
“Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power.”
SA accountants have to choose between implementing the constant purchasing power financial capital concept of invested purchasing power measured in units of constant purchasing power, the constant purchasing power financial capital maintenance concept and determining profit or loss in terms of units of constant purchasing power during non-hyperinflationary periods, on the one hand, or the traditional Historical Cost financial capital concept of invested money in nominal monetary units, the HC financial capital maintenance concept in nominal monetary units and the HC profit or loss determination concept in nominal monetary units during non-hyperinflationary periods.
SA accountants generally choose the real value destroying Historical Cost Accounting model when they implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption.
We all know that measuring an economic item in units of constant purchasing power maintains its real value constant as compared to measuring it in nominal monetary unit which results in its real value being destroyed at a rate equal to the rate of inflation.
The accounting professor states: “the choice of the measuring unit does not affect their fundamental value”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
He states: “ So its fine to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power and to argue that that would be a better method than using historic cost and maintaining a fiction as to the stability of the measuring unit - but that doesn't affect the nature of the underlying resources.”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
He states: “The choices accountants won't change that value & won't affect the economy (except indirectly insofar as investment decisions are based on the figures we present).”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
SA accountants unknowingly destroy about R200 billion PER ANNUM in the real value of constant items, for example, Retained Profits of all SA companies never updated during low inflation because they implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the real value destroying Historical Cost Accounting model.
They will boost the SA real economy by about R200 billion PER ANNUM for an unlimited period of time – ceteris paribus – when they reject the stable measuring unit assumption and freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB 20 years ago.
They simply have to ignore that the accounting professor states that “to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power doesn't affect the nature of the underlying resources.”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
The Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements Par. 104 (a) was approved by the International Accounting Standards Board’s predecessor body, the International Accounting Standards Committee Board, in April 1989 for publication in July 1989 and adopted by the IASB in April 2001.
SA accountants who prepare their companies´ accounts based on International Financial Reporting Standards during low inflation have to choose between Historical Cost Accounting and Constant ITEM Purchasing Power Accounting in terms of Par. 104 (a) which states:
“Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power.”
SA accountants have to choose between implementing the constant purchasing power financial capital concept of invested purchasing power measured in units of constant purchasing power, the constant purchasing power financial capital maintenance concept and determining profit or loss in terms of units of constant purchasing power during non-hyperinflationary periods, on the one hand, or the traditional Historical Cost financial capital concept of invested money in nominal monetary units, the HC financial capital maintenance concept in nominal monetary units and the HC profit or loss determination concept in nominal monetary units during non-hyperinflationary periods.
SA accountants generally choose the real value destroying Historical Cost Accounting model when they implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption.
We all know that measuring an economic item in units of constant purchasing power maintains its real value constant as compared to measuring it in nominal monetary unit which results in its real value being destroyed at a rate equal to the rate of inflation.
The accounting professor states: “the choice of the measuring unit does not affect their fundamental value”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
He states: “ So its fine to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power and to argue that that would be a better method than using historic cost and maintaining a fiction as to the stability of the measuring unit - but that doesn't affect the nature of the underlying resources.”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
He states: “The choices accountants won't change that value & won't affect the economy (except indirectly insofar as investment decisions are based on the figures we present).”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
SA accountants unknowingly destroy about R200 billion PER ANNUM in the real value of constant items, for example, Retained Profits of all SA companies never updated during low inflation because they implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the real value destroying Historical Cost Accounting model.
They will boost the SA real economy by about R200 billion PER ANNUM for an unlimited period of time – ceteris paribus – when they reject the stable measuring unit assumption and freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB 20 years ago.
They simply have to ignore that the accounting professor states that “to represent value in terms of constant purchasing power doesn't affect the nature of the underlying resources.”
He is dead wrong in the case of constant items never updated.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Monday, 24 August 2009
Financial reporting does NOT simply report on what took place
There is a debate whether accountants simply record what happened in the past or whether they value economic items.
There are three different categories of basic economic items in a financial report:
I. Monetary items
We all report monetary items at their original nominal monetary amounts during the current financial period.
Let us assume the following: Telkom placed R100 million in a savings account in the bank on 2nd Jan 2008.
Their accountants left this item as posted on 02-01-2008. Telkom´s auditors checked this entry and stated that Telkom´s accounts fairly presented their business at their year end.
Monetary items are also VALUED by accountants at their original nominal monetary values because it is impossible to update or inflation-adjust money and other monetary items. Their real values are continuously being destroyed by inflation which means they are always VALUED at their current inflation-destroyed real values.
Simply reporting them as they took place originally and VALUING them are thus one and the same thing.
II. Constant items
Let us assume: In Jan 1981 one of the late honourable Anton Rupert´s original companies had R100 million in Retained Profits. That amount stayed in retained profits till today. It was part of the Remgro Retained Earnings value at 31st March 2009.
Remgro´s auditors verified the amount and stated that Remgro´s accounts fairly present their business.
The fact that that R100 million is only worth R6.8 million in real value today is absolutely no concern to anyone.
Well, to me it is.
The fact that SA accountants valued in the past and now value Retained Profits at Historical Cost with their silly stable measuring unit assumption thus transforming hundreds (thousands?) of billions of Rands of constant real value non-monetary items currently into simple old CASH (you know, like Rand notes and coins) means that Retained Profits, just like Monetary Items above, are simply being reported as they took place originally and that VALUING them and stating them at their original nominal monetary values are one and the same thing.
The simple undeniable fact that by valuing (simply reporting what took place in some people´s view) Retained Profits at Historical Cost by implementing that silly stable measuring unit assumption, SA accountants are destroying hundreds of billions of Rand (about R200 billion) PER ANNUM in the SA real economy apparently has not been realized yet. Luckily the IASB realized something 20 years ago when they approved the Framework, Par. 104 (a) as follows:
"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units OR IN UNITS OF CONSTANT PURCHASING POWER."
III. Variable Items
Let us assume: A company bought stock on Jan 1 2008 at R100 million. At its year end on 31.12.2008 the net realizable value of that stock was R10 million.
Their auditors said: No. The stock has to be shown at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
So:
Financial reporting does NOT simply report on what took place.
Let us assume: Big bucks bankers on Wall Street securitized USD 10 trillion in sub-prime mortages and sold it off all over the world.
.
Their auditors forced them to value those items at fair value.
So:
Financial reporting does NOT simply report on what took place.
We can state a million examples of variable items not reported as they took place originally but VALUED in terms of IFRS or SA GAAP.
Copyright 2005-2010 by Nicolaas Smith
There are three different categories of basic economic items in a financial report:
I. Monetary items
We all report monetary items at their original nominal monetary amounts during the current financial period.
Let us assume the following: Telkom placed R100 million in a savings account in the bank on 2nd Jan 2008.
Their accountants left this item as posted on 02-01-2008. Telkom´s auditors checked this entry and stated that Telkom´s accounts fairly presented their business at their year end.
Monetary items are also VALUED by accountants at their original nominal monetary values because it is impossible to update or inflation-adjust money and other monetary items. Their real values are continuously being destroyed by inflation which means they are always VALUED at their current inflation-destroyed real values.
Simply reporting them as they took place originally and VALUING them are thus one and the same thing.
II. Constant items
Let us assume: In Jan 1981 one of the late honourable Anton Rupert´s original companies had R100 million in Retained Profits. That amount stayed in retained profits till today. It was part of the Remgro Retained Earnings value at 31st March 2009.
Remgro´s auditors verified the amount and stated that Remgro´s accounts fairly present their business.
The fact that that R100 million is only worth R6.8 million in real value today is absolutely no concern to anyone.
Well, to me it is.
The fact that SA accountants valued in the past and now value Retained Profits at Historical Cost with their silly stable measuring unit assumption thus transforming hundreds (thousands?) of billions of Rands of constant real value non-monetary items currently into simple old CASH (you know, like Rand notes and coins) means that Retained Profits, just like Monetary Items above, are simply being reported as they took place originally and that VALUING them and stating them at their original nominal monetary values are one and the same thing.
The simple undeniable fact that by valuing (simply reporting what took place in some people´s view) Retained Profits at Historical Cost by implementing that silly stable measuring unit assumption, SA accountants are destroying hundreds of billions of Rand (about R200 billion) PER ANNUM in the SA real economy apparently has not been realized yet. Luckily the IASB realized something 20 years ago when they approved the Framework, Par. 104 (a) as follows:
"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units OR IN UNITS OF CONSTANT PURCHASING POWER."
III. Variable Items
Let us assume: A company bought stock on Jan 1 2008 at R100 million. At its year end on 31.12.2008 the net realizable value of that stock was R10 million.
Their auditors said: No. The stock has to be shown at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
So:
Financial reporting does NOT simply report on what took place.
Let us assume: Big bucks bankers on Wall Street securitized USD 10 trillion in sub-prime mortages and sold it off all over the world.
.
Their auditors forced them to value those items at fair value.
So:
Financial reporting does NOT simply report on what took place.
We can state a million examples of variable items not reported as they took place originally but VALUED in terms of IFRS or SA GAAP.
Copyright 2005-2010 by Nicolaas Smith
Friday, 21 August 2009
SA accountants only fail in one instance - but it costs us a fortune
There are three economic items in the economy:
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items
1. Monetary Items
Monetary items are the easiest to value. Accountants do not have to do any calculations or follow any complicated rules in IFRS. They simply state the original nominal values during low inflation and during hyperinflation. That´s it.
Inflation destroys the real value of money and all other monetary items. Inflation keeps all monetary real values current at today´s rate. Very simple.
No-one can update any nominal monetary value during the current financial year.
So, it is the easiest thing in the world for accounants to value monetary items. They are automatically valued by inflation. They just state them at their original nominal values.
So, it is a fact: Accountants VALUE monetary items.
2. Variable Items
Accountants value variable items in terms of International Financial Reporting Standards at, for example, market value, fair value, recoverable value, present value and net realizable value during low inflation.
During hyperinflation, accountants have to value all variable items in units of constant purchasing power by inflation-adjusting them by means of the CPI. This is a requirement of the IASB in IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies.
No problems here either. Well, fair value mark-to-market procedures still have some way to go. But, the accounting authorities are working very hard to get this sorted out as soon as possible.
So, it is a fact: Accountants VALUE all variable items.
3. Constant items
Constant items are divided in two sub-groups:
a) Income statement items
b) Balance sheet constant items
Income statement items
Accountants value some (not all) income statement constant items, eg. salaries, wages, rents, etc in units of constant purchasing power during low inflation and thus maintain their real values constant - ceteris paribus.
The income statement items that are not inflation-adjusted during low inflation, accounants value at historical cost implementing the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation.
During hyperinflation IAS 29 requires accountants to inflation-adjust not just some, but, all income statement items in units of constant purchasing power by means of the CPI. They thus maintain their real values constant - ceteris paribus.
So, it is a fact: Accountants VALUE income statement items either in units of constant purchasing power or at historical cost during low inflation. During hyperinflation all income statement items are VALUED in units of constant purchasing power.
Balance sheet constant items
Accountants have to value all balance sheet constant items in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation. Accountant thus maintain their real values constant during hyperinflation - ceteris paribus.
Accountants value all balance sheet constant items, eg. issued share capital, retained profits, all other items in shareholders´ equity, etc at historical cost during low inflation thus unknowingly and unintentionally destroying their real values at a rate equal to the inflation rate because these items are constant real value non-monetary items. Accountants thus value these items the same as simple old cash - in nominal monetary values at historical cost implementing their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption and unknowingly destroy their real values at a rate equal to the rate of inflation to the tune of about R200 billion per year in the SA real economy for an unlimited period of time as long as they carry on implementing the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption during indefinite inflation.
So, it is a fact: accountants VALUE all income statement and all balance sheet constant items.
Summary: SA accountants VALUE all items they account in a business.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
PS When SA accountants choose to value all constant items during low inflation in units of constant purchasing power as they have been authorized by the IASB 20 years ago in the Framework, Par. 104 (a), they will boost the SA real economy by about R200 billion per annum forever - ceteris paribus
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items
1. Monetary Items
Monetary items are the easiest to value. Accountants do not have to do any calculations or follow any complicated rules in IFRS. They simply state the original nominal values during low inflation and during hyperinflation. That´s it.
Inflation destroys the real value of money and all other monetary items. Inflation keeps all monetary real values current at today´s rate. Very simple.
No-one can update any nominal monetary value during the current financial year.
So, it is the easiest thing in the world for accounants to value monetary items. They are automatically valued by inflation. They just state them at their original nominal values.
So, it is a fact: Accountants VALUE monetary items.
2. Variable Items
Accountants value variable items in terms of International Financial Reporting Standards at, for example, market value, fair value, recoverable value, present value and net realizable value during low inflation.
During hyperinflation, accountants have to value all variable items in units of constant purchasing power by inflation-adjusting them by means of the CPI. This is a requirement of the IASB in IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies.
No problems here either. Well, fair value mark-to-market procedures still have some way to go. But, the accounting authorities are working very hard to get this sorted out as soon as possible.
So, it is a fact: Accountants VALUE all variable items.
3. Constant items
Constant items are divided in two sub-groups:
a) Income statement items
b) Balance sheet constant items
Income statement items
Accountants value some (not all) income statement constant items, eg. salaries, wages, rents, etc in units of constant purchasing power during low inflation and thus maintain their real values constant - ceteris paribus.
The income statement items that are not inflation-adjusted during low inflation, accounants value at historical cost implementing the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation.
During hyperinflation IAS 29 requires accountants to inflation-adjust not just some, but, all income statement items in units of constant purchasing power by means of the CPI. They thus maintain their real values constant - ceteris paribus.
So, it is a fact: Accountants VALUE income statement items either in units of constant purchasing power or at historical cost during low inflation. During hyperinflation all income statement items are VALUED in units of constant purchasing power.
Balance sheet constant items
Accountants have to value all balance sheet constant items in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation. Accountant thus maintain their real values constant during hyperinflation - ceteris paribus.
Accountants value all balance sheet constant items, eg. issued share capital, retained profits, all other items in shareholders´ equity, etc at historical cost during low inflation thus unknowingly and unintentionally destroying their real values at a rate equal to the inflation rate because these items are constant real value non-monetary items. Accountants thus value these items the same as simple old cash - in nominal monetary values at historical cost implementing their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption and unknowingly destroy their real values at a rate equal to the rate of inflation to the tune of about R200 billion per year in the SA real economy for an unlimited period of time as long as they carry on implementing the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption during indefinite inflation.
So, it is a fact: accountants VALUE all income statement and all balance sheet constant items.
Summary: SA accountants VALUE all items they account in a business.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
PS When SA accountants choose to value all constant items during low inflation in units of constant purchasing power as they have been authorized by the IASB 20 years ago in the Framework, Par. 104 (a), they will boost the SA real economy by about R200 billion per annum forever - ceteris paribus
Thursday, 20 August 2009
SA accountants value economic items - they do not simply report on what took place
There are three basic items in the economy:
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items.
SA accountants value economic items when they account them and prepare financial reports.
Inflation destroys the real value of the Rand and all other Rand monetary items. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items. Monetary items cannot be updated or inflation adjusted. SA accountants value monetary items at their original nominal monetary values during the accounting period.
Inflation is the enemy in the SA monetary economy. Tito Mboweni and soon Gill Marcus are inflation´s enemies.
SA accountants value variable items, e.g. property, plant, equipment, quoted and unquoted shares, foreign exchange, inventories, finished goods, etc. in terms of International Financial Reporting Standards at for example market value, fair value, recoverable value, present value and net realizable value.
There is no enemy in the SA variable item non-monetary economy.
Constant items are real value non-monetary items with constant real values over time. Examples are salaries, wages, rentals, issued share capital, retained profits, etc. SA accountant unfortunately value them at historical cost implementing the stable measuring unit assumption. SA accountants unknowingly destroy the real value of constant items never or not fully updated at a rate equal to the inflation rate. This amounts to about R200 billion in the SA real economy.
The stable measuring unit assumption is the enemy in the SA constant item economy.
SA accountants unknowingly and unintentionally destroy the real value of constant items never or not fully updated when they implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the real value destroying traditional Historical Cost Accounting model for an unlimited period of time during indefinite inflation.
SA accountant will boost the SA real economy by about R200 billion for an unlimited period of time - ceteris paribus - when they freely reject the stable measuring unit assumption and measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as the IASB authorized them to do 20 years ago in the Framework, Par. 104 (a).
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items.
SA accountants value economic items when they account them and prepare financial reports.
Inflation destroys the real value of the Rand and all other Rand monetary items. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items. Monetary items cannot be updated or inflation adjusted. SA accountants value monetary items at their original nominal monetary values during the accounting period.
Inflation is the enemy in the SA monetary economy. Tito Mboweni and soon Gill Marcus are inflation´s enemies.
SA accountants value variable items, e.g. property, plant, equipment, quoted and unquoted shares, foreign exchange, inventories, finished goods, etc. in terms of International Financial Reporting Standards at for example market value, fair value, recoverable value, present value and net realizable value.
There is no enemy in the SA variable item non-monetary economy.
Constant items are real value non-monetary items with constant real values over time. Examples are salaries, wages, rentals, issued share capital, retained profits, etc. SA accountant unfortunately value them at historical cost implementing the stable measuring unit assumption. SA accountants unknowingly destroy the real value of constant items never or not fully updated at a rate equal to the inflation rate. This amounts to about R200 billion in the SA real economy.
The stable measuring unit assumption is the enemy in the SA constant item economy.
SA accountants unknowingly and unintentionally destroy the real value of constant items never or not fully updated when they implement the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the real value destroying traditional Historical Cost Accounting model for an unlimited period of time during indefinite inflation.
SA accountant will boost the SA real economy by about R200 billion for an unlimited period of time - ceteris paribus - when they freely reject the stable measuring unit assumption and measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as the IASB authorized them to do 20 years ago in the Framework, Par. 104 (a).
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
The second systemic economy-wide process of real value destruction
There was only one systemic economy-wide process of real value destruction operating in the economy before double entry accounting was invented.
The economic process of inflation destroyed the real value of money and other monetary items equally throughout the monetary economy at that time as it does today in economies subject to inflation.
There was no simultaneous second systemic economy-wide process as we experience today whereby accountants unknowingly and unintentionally destroy the real value of constant items never or not fully updated during indefinite inflation.
This includes the unknowing destruction by accountants of the real value of Shareholders´ Equity in companies without sufficient variable items that are or can be revalued via the Revaluation Reserve or without sufficient hidden and unrecognised holding gains to compensate for the real value shortfall in Shareholders´ Equity as we experience today because now accountants choose to maintain the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption for an unlimited period of time while they assume indefinite inflation – all else being equal.
The reason was that the real value destroying traditional Historical Cost Accounting model was not yet invented at that time.
We will go back to only one systemic economy-wide process of real value destruction operating in the economy, namely the economic process of inflation destroying the real value of money and other monetary items, when SA accountants reject the stable measuring unit assumption and freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the International Accounting Standards Board in the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements, Par. 104 (a) in 1989 which states:
"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power."
All constant items´ real values will be maintained for an indefinite period of time - ceteris paribus.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
The economic process of inflation destroyed the real value of money and other monetary items equally throughout the monetary economy at that time as it does today in economies subject to inflation.
There was no simultaneous second systemic economy-wide process as we experience today whereby accountants unknowingly and unintentionally destroy the real value of constant items never or not fully updated during indefinite inflation.
This includes the unknowing destruction by accountants of the real value of Shareholders´ Equity in companies without sufficient variable items that are or can be revalued via the Revaluation Reserve or without sufficient hidden and unrecognised holding gains to compensate for the real value shortfall in Shareholders´ Equity as we experience today because now accountants choose to maintain the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption for an unlimited period of time while they assume indefinite inflation – all else being equal.
The reason was that the real value destroying traditional Historical Cost Accounting model was not yet invented at that time.
We will go back to only one systemic economy-wide process of real value destruction operating in the economy, namely the economic process of inflation destroying the real value of money and other monetary items, when SA accountants reject the stable measuring unit assumption and freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the International Accounting Standards Board in the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements, Par. 104 (a) in 1989 which states:
"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power."
All constant items´ real values will be maintained for an indefinite period of time - ceteris paribus.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Trust me, I´m a SA accountant
Trust me, I am a SA accountant.
I will - unknowingly and unintentionally - destroy your Retained Profits at a rate equal to the rate of inflation (currently 6.9% - you can make your own calculations) as well as all your other constant real value non-monetary items never updated that I and all my fellow accountants (except Nicolaas Smith) - many of whom are CA(SA)s - value in nominal monetary units, i.e. at Historical Cost, implementing our very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the traditional generally accepted real value destroying Historical Cost Accounting model as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) which states:
"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units OR IN UNITS OF CONSTANT PURCHASING POWER."
In this way we unknowingly and unintentionally destroy at least R200 billion in the SA real economy each and every year as we did last year and as we will do for ever more as long as we implement our very destructive stable measuring unit assumption during indefinite inflation.
Signed: SA accountant
I will - unknowingly and unintentionally - destroy your Retained Profits at a rate equal to the rate of inflation (currently 6.9% - you can make your own calculations) as well as all your other constant real value non-monetary items never updated that I and all my fellow accountants (except Nicolaas Smith) - many of whom are CA(SA)s - value in nominal monetary units, i.e. at Historical Cost, implementing our very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the traditional generally accepted real value destroying Historical Cost Accounting model as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) which states:
"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units OR IN UNITS OF CONSTANT PURCHASING POWER."
In this way we unknowingly and unintentionally destroy at least R200 billion in the SA real economy each and every year as we did last year and as we will do for ever more as long as we implement our very destructive stable measuring unit assumption during indefinite inflation.
Signed: SA accountant
CAs are variable item value custodians and constant item value destroyers
Tito Mboweni is the custodian or guardian of the real value of the Rand.
Accountants value all economic items in a business.
How they value those economic items is very important. Ultimately, there is only one correct value for any economic item.
They are thus all custodians or guardians of the real values in a business.
That is why they are paid such high salaries. They are paid for financial integrity.
It does not mean they are little value-gods.
There are some items still to be sorted out.
They do look after value very well (variable items that they value in terms of IFRS) - with the one exception of the real value of balance sheet constant items, eg. issued share capital of companies with no fixed assets and retained profits of all companies. These they unknowingly destroy at a rate equal to the inflation rate to the tune of about R200 billion per annum in the SA real economy.
CA´s unintentionally do this with their implementation of the stable measuring unit assumption.
In fact International Financial Reporting Standards reject the stable measuring unit assumption on two occasions:
1. In IAS 29 Financial Reporting In Hyperinflationary Economies.
2. In The Framework, Par. 104 (a) which states: "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power."
When CAs start thinkging for themselves about what they are - unknowingly - doing to the SA real economy they will realize that by freely choosing to measure financial capital maitnenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB 20 years ago, they will boost the SA real economy by at least R200 billion per annum for an unlimited period of time instead of unknowingly and unintentionally destroying about R200 billion PER ANNUM for an unlimited period of time - each and every year - in the SA real economy (ceteris paribus) as they are unknowingly and unintentionally doing this year.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Accountants value all economic items in a business.
How they value those economic items is very important. Ultimately, there is only one correct value for any economic item.
They are thus all custodians or guardians of the real values in a business.
That is why they are paid such high salaries. They are paid for financial integrity.
It does not mean they are little value-gods.
There are some items still to be sorted out.
They do look after value very well (variable items that they value in terms of IFRS) - with the one exception of the real value of balance sheet constant items, eg. issued share capital of companies with no fixed assets and retained profits of all companies. These they unknowingly destroy at a rate equal to the inflation rate to the tune of about R200 billion per annum in the SA real economy.
CA´s unintentionally do this with their implementation of the stable measuring unit assumption.
In fact International Financial Reporting Standards reject the stable measuring unit assumption on two occasions:
1. In IAS 29 Financial Reporting In Hyperinflationary Economies.
2. In The Framework, Par. 104 (a) which states: "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power."
When CAs start thinkging for themselves about what they are - unknowingly - doing to the SA real economy they will realize that by freely choosing to measure financial capital maitnenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB 20 years ago, they will boost the SA real economy by at least R200 billion per annum for an unlimited period of time instead of unknowingly and unintentionally destroying about R200 billion PER ANNUM for an unlimited period of time - each and every year - in the SA real economy (ceteris paribus) as they are unknowingly and unintentionally doing this year.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Why don´t SA accountants follow the IASB then?
The reasons SA accountants do not follow the IASB are the same reasons the rest of the world´s accountants don´t follow the IASB:
Some examples:
1. Historical Cost Accounting has been around for 500 years.
2. Everybody uses Historical Cost Accounting.
3. Hardly anyone (this includes the IASB) understands that when accountants use the stable measuring unit assumption as part of Historical Cost Accounting they unknowingly destroy the real value of their company´s retained profits, for example.
When they get to realize it, they say it makes no difference in the real world - like Market Monkey says.
In fact, it costs SA about R200 billion in real value unknowingly destroyed by our accountants each and every year in this way.
4. Hardly anyone (this includes the IASB) understands that when they stop the stable measuring unit assumption they will maintain the real value of all constant items.
5. Hardly any accountants even know that they in fact choose between two basic accounting models when they do their accounts in terms of International Financial Reporting Standards. They do not even know there is a choice and that they in fact make that choice. Ask any accountant you know.
You see, the IASB made the mistake of giving them a choice between measuring financial capital maintenance in either nominal monetary units (the traditional Historical Cost Accounting model) or units of constant purchasing power.
No-one chooses constant purchasing power units. The reason for this is that during the high-inflation 1970´s companies unsuccessfully tried inflation accounting in units of constant purchasing power whereunder they inflation-adjusted all non-monetary items by means of the Consumer Price Index.
Most companies correctly complained that you cannot just inflation-adjust all non-monetary items (cars, phones, groceries, etc) during high inflation.
The IASB correctly formulated IAS 29 for the use of Constant Purchasing Power inflation accounting only during hyperinflation.
Now, whenever any accountant or accounting authority sees anything about units of constant purchasing power, they immediately think inflation accounting.
Before the IASB came about, accounting was based on Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The IASB did not have the guts (tomates is what we say in Portuguese) to change the 500 year old Historical Cost Paradigm. If they remove the words "nominal monetary units" from the Framework, Par 104 (a) that states: "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either NOMINAL MONETARY UNITS or in units of constant purchasing power." then they will cause a paradigm change: out with the Historical Cost paradigm and in with the Constant Purchasing Power paradigm.
But, that is a very big step. It will not happen overnight. I accept that.
Those are the main reasons.
Accounting authorities are doing a good job at the moment with fair value accounting: mark-to-market accounting.
After that they should tackle the stable measuring unit assumption - if South Africa has not yet taken the lead in getting it rejected by then.
But, we have to start somewhere and go one step at a time. Eventually we´ll get there. When, I don´t know.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Some examples:
1. Historical Cost Accounting has been around for 500 years.
2. Everybody uses Historical Cost Accounting.
3. Hardly anyone (this includes the IASB) understands that when accountants use the stable measuring unit assumption as part of Historical Cost Accounting they unknowingly destroy the real value of their company´s retained profits, for example.
When they get to realize it, they say it makes no difference in the real world - like Market Monkey says.
In fact, it costs SA about R200 billion in real value unknowingly destroyed by our accountants each and every year in this way.
4. Hardly anyone (this includes the IASB) understands that when they stop the stable measuring unit assumption they will maintain the real value of all constant items.
5. Hardly any accountants even know that they in fact choose between two basic accounting models when they do their accounts in terms of International Financial Reporting Standards. They do not even know there is a choice and that they in fact make that choice. Ask any accountant you know.
You see, the IASB made the mistake of giving them a choice between measuring financial capital maintenance in either nominal monetary units (the traditional Historical Cost Accounting model) or units of constant purchasing power.
No-one chooses constant purchasing power units. The reason for this is that during the high-inflation 1970´s companies unsuccessfully tried inflation accounting in units of constant purchasing power whereunder they inflation-adjusted all non-monetary items by means of the Consumer Price Index.
Most companies correctly complained that you cannot just inflation-adjust all non-monetary items (cars, phones, groceries, etc) during high inflation.
The IASB correctly formulated IAS 29 for the use of Constant Purchasing Power inflation accounting only during hyperinflation.
Now, whenever any accountant or accounting authority sees anything about units of constant purchasing power, they immediately think inflation accounting.
Before the IASB came about, accounting was based on Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The IASB did not have the guts (tomates is what we say in Portuguese) to change the 500 year old Historical Cost Paradigm. If they remove the words "nominal monetary units" from the Framework, Par 104 (a) that states: "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either NOMINAL MONETARY UNITS or in units of constant purchasing power." then they will cause a paradigm change: out with the Historical Cost paradigm and in with the Constant Purchasing Power paradigm.
But, that is a very big step. It will not happen overnight. I accept that.
Those are the main reasons.
Accounting authorities are doing a good job at the moment with fair value accounting: mark-to-market accounting.
After that they should tackle the stable measuring unit assumption - if South Africa has not yet taken the lead in getting it rejected by then.
But, we have to start somewhere and go one step at a time. Eventually we´ll get there. When, I don´t know.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Fool proof accounting
Hi Motley Fool,
[Warning to Market Monkey: Do not read the following. If you do, you will turn into stone.]
As I was saying my dear Motley Fool,
I will teach you Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting as defined by no other than our well known
The Motley Fool
Here we go: (this is what you call a liberal translation of the Motley Fool´s teachings about accounting. This translation is from The Motley Fool´s impeccible English to GobblyGook as sputtered by The Deluded Monkey.)
Accounting is double entry: For every debit there is a corresponding credit.
According to the Motley Fool
any particular entry
"should be worth more the next year due to the currency being worth less."
The Motley Fool´s exact words in inverted commas.
Since accounting is double entry the Motley Fool´s words hold true for BOTH sides of each set of debit and credit entries.
That´s it.
That, in broad principle, is the IASB´s Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting.
"Due to the currency being worth less" all accounting items (entries) "should be worth more the next year" as per the Motley Fool.
There are three types of items in the economy:
1. Variable items. Cups etc. Their values are generally set in the market where inflation is taken into account in the price.
2. Monetary items: money, loans, etc. They cannot be inflation-adjusted. Thus you have a net monetary loss or gain.
3. Constant items: eg. salaries, capital, retained profits, etc.
As you know the real value of your salary is destroyed if it is not inflation-adjusted every year.
The same is true with capital and retained profits.
There you are: Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting as per The Motley Fool.
Motley Fool, you are a genius!
Long live The Motley Fool!!
Kindest regards,
Deluded Monkey
PS: The Motley Fool´s famous statement:
"should be worth more the next year due to the currency being worth less."
signalled the end of the 5 century old Historical Cost paradigm.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
[Warning to Market Monkey: Do not read the following. If you do, you will turn into stone.]
As I was saying my dear Motley Fool,
I will teach you Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting as defined by no other than our well known
The Motley Fool
Here we go: (this is what you call a liberal translation of the Motley Fool´s teachings about accounting. This translation is from The Motley Fool´s impeccible English to GobblyGook as sputtered by The Deluded Monkey.)
Accounting is double entry: For every debit there is a corresponding credit.
According to the Motley Fool
any particular entry
"should be worth more the next year due to the currency being worth less."
The Motley Fool´s exact words in inverted commas.
Since accounting is double entry the Motley Fool´s words hold true for BOTH sides of each set of debit and credit entries.
That´s it.
That, in broad principle, is the IASB´s Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting.
"Due to the currency being worth less" all accounting items (entries) "should be worth more the next year" as per the Motley Fool.
There are three types of items in the economy:
1. Variable items. Cups etc. Their values are generally set in the market where inflation is taken into account in the price.
2. Monetary items: money, loans, etc. They cannot be inflation-adjusted. Thus you have a net monetary loss or gain.
3. Constant items: eg. salaries, capital, retained profits, etc.
As you know the real value of your salary is destroyed if it is not inflation-adjusted every year.
The same is true with capital and retained profits.
There you are: Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting as per The Motley Fool.
Motley Fool, you are a genius!
Long live The Motley Fool!!
Kindest regards,
Deluded Monkey
PS: The Motley Fool´s famous statement:
"should be worth more the next year due to the currency being worth less."
signalled the end of the 5 century old Historical Cost paradigm.
© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved
No reproduction without permission
Friday, 14 August 2009
One very deluded Historical Cost Market Monkey
Market Monkey said:
"The problem with your capital "raising" is that it doesn't raise any REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with. If you don't get the distinction between the funds raised via preference shares and an increase in funds due to an accounting change I'm gonna have to stop visiting and conclude you are one very deluded monkey. MM."
Real Value Accountant said:
"Hi Market Monkey,
I was getting worried. You have been very quiet lately. Thought you went off to meditate units of constant purchasing power in Tibet? :-)
You must believe me that I am not actually a snake oil salesman. I am just finishing off something I got involved in – by chance - 15 years ago trying to sort (and actually sorted out) out what was going on in the hyperinflationary Angolan economy. But, that´s another story.
What I state is actually correct and true. I did not invent this. The International Accounting Standards Board did. Read Paragraph 104 (a). It states: "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power." It is NOT of my making. I am just the messenger. I got involved by chance. I am simply the office messenger delivering the letters from the big bosses in London.
You are not up against me: you are taking on the IASB – Sir David and the boys in London – including Geoffrey Whittington, amongst others.
Why do you think the IASB approved financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power if they had not subjected it to due process first? This is not of my making.
The IASB approved Constant ITEM Purchasing Power Accounting model (my name for it: the IASB formulated it in April, 1989. But, no-one has been using it for the last 20 years: so, there was no need for it to have a name; so, now I named it CIPPA) is not just an accounting change with no real world effect.
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”
So, I will try and show you some account “pictures”:
Your way of doing accounting: The Historical Cost Accounting model – used by all SA accountants:
Year One
Assets: Debit: Trade debtors R100 million
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R100 million
Your complete balance sheet.
After a year at 6.9% inflation and no activity for a year your auditors audit your accounts and give you an unqualified audit report in Year Two stating that the following FAIRLY reflects your business and your accounting is compliant with IFRS:
Year Two
Assets: Debit: Trade debtors R100 million
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R 100 million
Remember: this is after one year of no activity with inflation at 6.9%
Here are the IASB (not my) Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting balance sheet which is also complaint with IFRS:
Year One
Assets: Debit: Trade Debtors R100 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year One)
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R100 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year One)
One year later with no activity and inflation at 6.9%:
Year Two
Assets: Debit: Trade Debtors R106.9 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year Two)
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R106.9 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year Two)
On 1st January Year Three you go and collect your R100 million from your debtors. We assume we are using the Historical Cost paradigm.
On 1st January Year Three the IASB go and collect their R106.9 million from their debtors. We assume we are using he Constant Purchasing Power paradigm.
The IASB collected ACTUAL Rands – the same as “funds raised via preference shares. REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with.”
Sir David from the IASB likes rugby. He was in Cape Town at the time and the Boks were playing he All Blacks at Newlands. He took some of that R106.9 million of REAL Rands he collected from his trade debtors and bought a ticket to watch the Boks live at Newlands.
You only collected your miserable R100 million – destroyed in real value by 6.9% inflation. YOU did not have the extra Rands like “funds raised via preference shares. REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with”, so you watched the game on TV at home.
YOU did not collect those REAL extra Rands. YOU collected you nominal monetary unit Historical Cost Rands destroyed at 6.9% by SA inflation.
Now, you want to tell me that under the IASB approved – not the Nicolaas Smith invented – Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting model there is no “REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with.”
So, what I am promoting generates REAL FUNDS like “funds raised via preference shares. REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with”.
Market Monkey, I´m sure you get it now.
As you can see: it is DOUBLE ENTRY ACCOUNTING. Real funds are generated because it is DOUBLE ENTRY ACCOUNTING. It is not just a one-sided accounting entry.
So, Market Monkey: who is deluded? You with your nominal historical cost monetary units destroyed at the rate of inflation (YOU may think they are worth the same as a year ago - I don´t know) or the IASB with their hands full of inflation adjusted constant real value non-monetary items in REAL Rands?
It is a complete paradigm change - as you may realize by now. This is also "by chance". When I got involved in 1994 I had no idea where this logical journey would lead me. I just take one logical step at a time.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
"The problem with your capital "raising" is that it doesn't raise any REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with. If you don't get the distinction between the funds raised via preference shares and an increase in funds due to an accounting change I'm gonna have to stop visiting and conclude you are one very deluded monkey. MM."
Real Value Accountant said:
"Hi Market Monkey,
I was getting worried. You have been very quiet lately. Thought you went off to meditate units of constant purchasing power in Tibet? :-)
You must believe me that I am not actually a snake oil salesman. I am just finishing off something I got involved in – by chance - 15 years ago trying to sort (and actually sorted out) out what was going on in the hyperinflationary Angolan economy. But, that´s another story.
What I state is actually correct and true. I did not invent this. The International Accounting Standards Board did. Read Paragraph 104 (a). It states: "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power." It is NOT of my making. I am just the messenger. I got involved by chance. I am simply the office messenger delivering the letters from the big bosses in London.
You are not up against me: you are taking on the IASB – Sir David and the boys in London – including Geoffrey Whittington, amongst others.
Why do you think the IASB approved financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power if they had not subjected it to due process first? This is not of my making.
The IASB approved Constant ITEM Purchasing Power Accounting model (my name for it: the IASB formulated it in April, 1989. But, no-one has been using it for the last 20 years: so, there was no need for it to have a name; so, now I named it CIPPA) is not just an accounting change with no real world effect.
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”
So, I will try and show you some account “pictures”:
Your way of doing accounting: The Historical Cost Accounting model – used by all SA accountants:
Year One
Assets: Debit: Trade debtors R100 million
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R100 million
Your complete balance sheet.
After a year at 6.9% inflation and no activity for a year your auditors audit your accounts and give you an unqualified audit report in Year Two stating that the following FAIRLY reflects your business and your accounting is compliant with IFRS:
Year Two
Assets: Debit: Trade debtors R100 million
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R 100 million
Remember: this is after one year of no activity with inflation at 6.9%
Here are the IASB (not my) Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting balance sheet which is also complaint with IFRS:
Year One
Assets: Debit: Trade Debtors R100 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year One)
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R100 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year One)
One year later with no activity and inflation at 6.9%:
Year Two
Assets: Debit: Trade Debtors R106.9 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year Two)
Liabilities: Credit: Capital R106.9 million (we assume today is 31.12 Year Two)
On 1st January Year Three you go and collect your R100 million from your debtors. We assume we are using the Historical Cost paradigm.
On 1st January Year Three the IASB go and collect their R106.9 million from their debtors. We assume we are using he Constant Purchasing Power paradigm.
The IASB collected ACTUAL Rands – the same as “funds raised via preference shares. REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with.”
Sir David from the IASB likes rugby. He was in Cape Town at the time and the Boks were playing he All Blacks at Newlands. He took some of that R106.9 million of REAL Rands he collected from his trade debtors and bought a ticket to watch the Boks live at Newlands.
You only collected your miserable R100 million – destroyed in real value by 6.9% inflation. YOU did not have the extra Rands like “funds raised via preference shares. REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with”, so you watched the game on TV at home.
YOU did not collect those REAL extra Rands. YOU collected you nominal monetary unit Historical Cost Rands destroyed at 6.9% by SA inflation.
Now, you want to tell me that under the IASB approved – not the Nicolaas Smith invented – Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting model there is no “REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with.”
So, what I am promoting generates REAL FUNDS like “funds raised via preference shares. REAL money. You know. The stuff you use to actually buy things and services with”.
Market Monkey, I´m sure you get it now.
As you can see: it is DOUBLE ENTRY ACCOUNTING. Real funds are generated because it is DOUBLE ENTRY ACCOUNTING. It is not just a one-sided accounting entry.
So, Market Monkey: who is deluded? You with your nominal historical cost monetary units destroyed at the rate of inflation (YOU may think they are worth the same as a year ago - I don´t know) or the IASB with their hands full of inflation adjusted constant real value non-monetary items in REAL Rands?
It is a complete paradigm change - as you may realize by now. This is also "by chance". When I got involved in 1994 I had no idea where this logical journey would lead me. I just take one logical step at a time.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Nedbank you will be real dummies not to accept my offer
Hi Nebank Board of Directors,
I see you intend to issue R1 billion non-core Tier 1 perpetual, non-cumulative, non-redeemable, non-participating Nedbank preference shares on which you will pay a dividend of 75% of the prime interest rate or .75 times 10.5% times R1 billion = R 78.75 million per annum - ceteris paribus.
Well, here is my deal for you:
I will show you how to increase your equity by R2.285 billion in perpetuity - AT NO COST.
Here it is: Simply measure your financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) twenty years ago. It is compliant with IFRS. Your auditors will still sign your accounts as normal.
Your total equity at June 2008 was R33.127 billion. Updating that at 6.9% to June 2009 will add R2.285 immediately to your equity.
Nice and easy, isn´t it. AT NO COST. (Your accountants are very bright people and will pick up Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting very quickly.)
[Well, there is a small cost involved: you have to promise to buy a copy of my soon to be finished book for every member of your staff in South Africa.]
Nedbank, you will be real dummies not to accept my offer.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
I see you intend to issue R1 billion non-core Tier 1 perpetual, non-cumulative, non-redeemable, non-participating Nedbank preference shares on which you will pay a dividend of 75% of the prime interest rate or .75 times 10.5% times R1 billion = R 78.75 million per annum - ceteris paribus.
Well, here is my deal for you:
I will show you how to increase your equity by R2.285 billion in perpetuity - AT NO COST.
Here it is: Simply measure your financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) twenty years ago. It is compliant with IFRS. Your auditors will still sign your accounts as normal.
Your total equity at June 2008 was R33.127 billion. Updating that at 6.9% to June 2009 will add R2.285 immediately to your equity.
Nice and easy, isn´t it. AT NO COST. (Your accountants are very bright people and will pick up Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting very quickly.)
[Well, there is a small cost involved: you have to promise to buy a copy of my soon to be finished book for every member of your staff in South Africa.]
Nedbank, you will be real dummies not to accept my offer.
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Capital maintenance for dummies - like the IASB :-)
Capital maintenance for dummies - like the IASB
Capital is required to start a company. A company has an indefinite life - it is supposed to exist forever.
Capital is really saved-up wealth or saved-up real value.
Luckily double entry accounting makes capital into a constant item. It is like your salary or wage: its real value is a constant item.
But, if your salary is paid in ever-more-worthless-Rands (inflation or value-destruction at 6.9%) then your salary has to be inflation-adjusted to keep its real value the same.
This is what trade unions do. They make sure your salary is inflation adjusted every year.
This is very easy to understand. Everybody does it - world wide. That is, for salaries and wages and rentals and so on.
Enter the IASB. The International Accounting Standards Board.
Well, they are the world´s top accounants.
They are very responsible people.
They realize that money loses its real value at such a rapid rate during hyperinflation that all items that are not monetary items have to be inflation-adjusted by means of the Consumer Price Index. That is during hyperinflation.
However, during low inflation, the IASB change their story completely: now they suddenly come up with the story that you can maintain your capital in NOMINAL monetary units during low inflation.
Imagine that!
That is only possible when you invest 100% of your company´s capital in revaluable fixed assets. Companies normally don´t do that.
We all know that you cannot maintain the real value of your salary by keeping it the same during inflation.
Well, the same is true for companies´ capital and retained profits.
Not so, according to our friends at the IASB. According to them you can MAINTAIN your company´s retained profits in NOMINAL MONETARY UNITS.
They are nuts! :-)
That is completely impossible during inflation.
Well, they are not as dof as they appear to be. lol
They authorized our accountants in SA 20 years ago to maintain our companies´ capital and retained profits in units of constant purchasing power.
Fantastic! That is 100% correct!
Well. That is where the capital maintenance stops. :-(
Not a single SA accountant selects capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power.
What a sad story. Instead they unknowingly destroy about R200 billion per year in real value in constant items never updated - each and every year!!)
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
Capital is required to start a company. A company has an indefinite life - it is supposed to exist forever.
Capital is really saved-up wealth or saved-up real value.
Luckily double entry accounting makes capital into a constant item. It is like your salary or wage: its real value is a constant item.
But, if your salary is paid in ever-more-worthless-Rands (inflation or value-destruction at 6.9%) then your salary has to be inflation-adjusted to keep its real value the same.
This is what trade unions do. They make sure your salary is inflation adjusted every year.
This is very easy to understand. Everybody does it - world wide. That is, for salaries and wages and rentals and so on.
Enter the IASB. The International Accounting Standards Board.
Well, they are the world´s top accounants.
They are very responsible people.
They realize that money loses its real value at such a rapid rate during hyperinflation that all items that are not monetary items have to be inflation-adjusted by means of the Consumer Price Index. That is during hyperinflation.
However, during low inflation, the IASB change their story completely: now they suddenly come up with the story that you can maintain your capital in NOMINAL monetary units during low inflation.
Imagine that!
That is only possible when you invest 100% of your company´s capital in revaluable fixed assets. Companies normally don´t do that.
We all know that you cannot maintain the real value of your salary by keeping it the same during inflation.
Well, the same is true for companies´ capital and retained profits.
Not so, according to our friends at the IASB. According to them you can MAINTAIN your company´s retained profits in NOMINAL MONETARY UNITS.
They are nuts! :-)
That is completely impossible during inflation.
Well, they are not as dof as they appear to be. lol
They authorized our accountants in SA 20 years ago to maintain our companies´ capital and retained profits in units of constant purchasing power.
Fantastic! That is 100% correct!
Well. That is where the capital maintenance stops. :-(
Not a single SA accountant selects capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power.
What a sad story. Instead they unknowingly destroy about R200 billion per year in real value in constant items never updated - each and every year!!)
Kindest regards,
Nicolaas Smith
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