Constant items

There are three fundamentally different basic economic items in the economy: 1) monetary items 2) variable real value non-monetary items and 3) constant real value non-monetary items.

Variable items have variable values based on market demand and supply, and in companies their values are determined in terms of International Financial Reporting Standards if they are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and on SA Generally Accepted Accounting Practice if they are not listed on the JSE. Unlisted companies can also comply with IFRS if they so choose.

The second distinct economic item is a monetary item. That can be money and other monetary items like all money loans, capital amounts of mortages, etc. Money´s value is constant or stable in nominal value. The values on the notes and coins do not change.

Money and other monetary items´ real value has never ever been stable in the past and is not stable now. Money and other monetary items´ real value is determined by inflation and deflation. Inflation is always and everywhere the destruction of real value in money and other monetary values. 6% inflation in SA destroys about R120 billion in the real value of the Rand and other monetary items in the SA economy every year.

Now we come to the big surprise to you: there is a third distinctive basic fundamentally different economic item: constant real value non-monetary items. Examples are salaries, wages, rentals, issued share capital, reported retained profits, share premium account, capital reserves, all other items in shareholders´equity, provisions, trade debtors, trade creditors, taxes payable, taxes receivable, all other payables and receivables, etc.

They all have constant real values - all else being equal. They have to be valued in units of constant purchasing power during inflation and deflation.

That is the ONLY way to keep their real values constant over time during inflation and deflation. When constant items are valued in nominal monetary units by SA accountants when they apply their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption (a very popular accounting fallacy approved by the International Accounting Standards Board) they destroy their real values at a rate equal to the rate of inflation because these constant items, like all other economic items in SA are expressed in the Rand which is a monetary medium of exchange and inflation destroys the real value of the Rand, not the real value of the constant items.

The real values of all constant items never maintained in the SA economy are unknowingly, unnecessarily and unintentionally being destroyed by SA accountants freely choosing the 700 year old generally accepted traditional Historical Cost Accounting model when they freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units (the second popular accounting fallacy approved by the IASB) in terms of the IASB´s Framework, Par 104 (a) which states: “Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or units of constant purchasing power.”

You can thus see that the IASB authorized the accounting fallacy of financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units (it is impossible to maintain the real value of capital stable in nominal monetary units per se during inflation and deflation) and its ONLY and PERFECT antidote in one and the same IFRS statement. SA accountants unknowingly destroy about R200 billion each and every year in the real values of existing reported constant items never maintained when they freely choose traditional HCA implementing the stable measuring unit assumption when they measure financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units in terms of the Framework, Par 104 (a) in SA companies.

They would stop that destruction and boost the SA real economy by about R200 billion per annum for an unlimited period of time in the future when they freely choose financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as they have been authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par 104 (a) twenty years ago in 1989. So, the SA constant item part of the SA real economy is full of millions of constant real value non-monetary items with constant real values.

When your salary is inflation-adjusted at least at the rate of inflation then its real value stays constant. The same should happen to all reported retained profits and capital in all SA banks and companies. Unfortunately it is not yet happening like that.

SA accountants blame inflation for the erosion of companies´ profits and capital, the third very popular accounting fallacy accepted by the IASB. They know and admit that this destruction - they always call it erosion - takes place: they and all other accountants world wide blame inflation instead of their own free choice of the traditional HCA model.

So, there are millions of constant items with stable or constant real values. The IASB proof is in Par 104 (a): Financial capital maintenance can be measured in units of CONSTANT purchasing power. Capital and all items in Shareholders´Equity are non-monetary items as defined by the IASB.

Since they can be measured in units of CONSTANT purchasing power to keep their real values CONSTANT, they are thus CONSTANT items.

Do you perhaps know any accountants? :-)

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

The failure of IAS 29

The combination of hyperinflation, accountants implementing HCA and inappropriate economic and monetary policies in a country destroy the real economy, because it is impossible for hyperinflation – per se – to destroy the real value of non-monetary items. For example: Salaries and wages: Salaries and wages are constant real value non-monetary items. Hyperinflation can not destroy their real values. Hyperinflation can only destroy the real value of the hyperinflationary currency and other monetary items. Salaries and wages are not monetary items. They are simply paid in money as the medium of exchange. They can be paid in Big Macs / beer / food supplies too. Hyperinflation destroys the real value of the monetary medium of exchange. They can also be paid in foreign exchange (e.g. in US Dollars) or in kind when their real values would not be destroyed no matter what the rate of hyperinflation. The real values of salaries and wages are destroyed in a hyperinflationary economy when they are fixed; i.e., they are valued in nominal monetary units.

Their real values are destroyed when they are not updated or they are updated at a rate lower than the rate of hyperinflation. Their real values are not updated because of an accounting practice: valuation in nominal monetary units. Their real values would be maintained when a different measurement basis is chosen, namely, units of constant purchasing power by applying the parallel rate in a hyperinflationary economy. So, it is the choice of measuring them in nominal monetary units which destroys their real value and not hyperinflation because when they are measured in units of constant purchasing power by applying the daily parallel rate their real values would be maintained no matter what the rate of hyperinflation.

The result of not updating salaries and wages in a hyperinflationary economy is that internal demand in the country contracts dramatically. Workers don’t receive enough money to make their normal monthly purchases because the goods they normally buy are variable items. These variable items´ prices are updated in terms of the daily parallel rate, but not their salaries.

There would be no destruction of real value in the real or non-monetary economy at all when all constant items (salaries, wages, rent, capital, retained profits, trade debtors, trade creditors, taxes payable, etc.) and variable items are updated daily in terms of the parallel rate – no matter what the hyperinflation rate is. That would be continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power: at the parallel rate in a hyperinflationary economy. This does not happen when IAS 29 is applied. IAS 29 simply requires simple financial statement restatement in terms of the CPI at the financial year end which produces meaningless results at a historic rate that is meaningless since the current parallel rate would make reading or analyzing those financial statements a complete waste of time in a hyperinflationary economy.

Some companies in Zimbabwe and elsewhere refused to implement IAS 29 for this reason. Towards the end of the hyperinflationary spiral created by the Zimbabwe government and central bank that wiped out all the real value of the Zimbabwe Dollar prices doubled every 24.7 hours according to Prof Steve Hanke from Cato Institute. http://www.cato.org/zimbabwe The Zimbabwe government did not even supply the CPI for a number of months. It is obviously impossible to apply IAS 29 in a scenario like that. The parallel rate (not always the same one) was available 24/7 throughout the country 365 days a year.

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

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Accounting fallacy and antidote approved by IASB in the same statement

IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies was required to be implemented by all companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange during hyperinflation in that country. That made no difference and could not make any difference to the hyperinflationary spiral of hyper-destruction of the real value of the ZimDollar because hyperinflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon and can only destroy the real value of the hyperinflationary currency and other monetary items. Hyperinflation per se has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items in a hyperinflationary economy. See Gucenme and Arsoy.

However, if IAS29 was applied on a daily basis applying the daily parallel rate to all non-monetary items (not just most consumer products) in Zimbabwe, then the Zimbabwean real economy would not have unknowingly been destroyed to the extent it was destroyed by the implementation of the stable measuring unit assumption in the Zimbabwean real economy during hyperinflation.

The real values of constant real value non-monetary items in a hyperinflationary economy are destroyed by HC accountants´ choice of financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units (one of the IASB-approved popular accounting fallacies) when they implement the HC model (see PricewaterhouseCoopers in Understanding IAS 29) which includes the stable measuring unit assumption (another IASB approved popular accounting fallacy) during hyperinflation.

Zimbabwe accountants then dutifully restated their HC financial statements at year end by applying the CPI at the year end date to give them meaningless results  after they had unknowingly destroyed the real value of constant real value non-monetary items in their companies by first implementing HCA during hyperinflation as encouraged by the IASB before applying IAS 29 restatement to what was left of their companies at year end as required by the IASB.

They also unknowingly played their full part in the destruction of their real economy in combination with hyperinflation, inappropriate government economic policies and inappropriate Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe monetary policies. The joke about an accountant being like a man who hides away in the hills during the battle and afterwards comes down and bayonets the wounded, comes to mind. :-)

Historical Cost Accounting should be banned by law during hyperinflation and low inflation. That would be the quikest and best way to solve many, many problems. That is going to be the end result, in any case. Not by law, but by general acceptance. The SA real economy would gain about R200 billion per annum for an unlimited period of time and SA accountants would - for the first time - properly fulfil their roles as guardians of constant real non-monetary value in the economy which should be the real objective of their training and their compensation.

It is the SARB´s job to lower the destruction of real value of the Rand and other monetary items in the SA monetary economy by lowering inflation. Accountants can do nothing with accounting about that. They can, however, ensure zero destruction of real value in the constant item economy for an unlimited period of time with continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as they have been authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par 104 (a) twenty years ago. Instead, they currently unknowingly, unnecessarily and unintentionally destroy that about R200 billion each and every year in the real values of constant items (e.g. all reported Retained Profits in SA companies) never maintained with their implementation of financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units - the very popular accounting fallacy also authorized by the IASB in the exact same Framework, Par 104 (a) in 1989.

The Framework, Par 104 (a) states:

"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or units of constant purchasing power."

A very long standing, very popular, very destructive accounting fallacy as well as its only and perfect antidote both approved by the IASB in the same statement. It is so strange it is hard to believe: but, it is true.


© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

Sir David Tweedie does not understand the basic problem with IAS 29

A modified IAS 29 can, in fact, be used to stop this hyper-destruction by accountants´ choice of the HCA model of the real values of constant items never maintained during hyperinflation. Hyperinflation per se destroys the real value of the monetary unit directly, for example, the Zimbabwe Dollar in the recent past. There is no Zimbabwe Dollar today: the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe over-printed it to oblivion. The Zimbabwean people en masse believed very strongly in the fallacy that printing money creates wealth. Hyperinflation did not and can not destroy the real value of any non-monetary item (constant or variable real value non-monetary item) in the Zimbabwean economy or any other economy.

The real values of some, mostly consumer, non-monetary items were maintained by the fact that their selling prices were adjusted every time the black market or parallel rate changed in Zimbabwe. These changes sometimes occurred twice or more often per day. Their real values were maintained, not by applying the CPI as officially required by the IASB in terms of IFRS, but, the daily parallel rate of exchange for the US Dollar to the ZimDollar. That was the real rate of exchange and real value rate in Zimbabwe. That is always the case in all hyperinflationary economies. Not the CPI that was announced a month after the month to which it related. The CPI that could be announced two months after the date of a transaction is useless as a real value index in a hyperinflationary economy when prices change every few hours.

This is the basic reason for IAS 29´s failure in hyperinflationary economies: requiring the CPI to be applied at the end of the year instead of the daily parallel rate to be applied daily. Sir David Tweedie, the Chairman of the IASB, never worked or lived in a hyperinflationary economy. If he had, he would understand the basic problem with IAS29. Obviously I agree that we cannot expect the Chairman of the IASB to experience every accounting problem personally. Sir David has a very busy schedule. He spends his time flying all over the world on IASB business (refining IASB approved accounting fallacies – I suppose) and did not have time to read my “voluminous manuscript” in the past. So he asked Geoffrey Whittington to inform me. (I do not actually expect Sir David to read my manuscripts. I thought the IASB had a basic research section.)

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

Vital function of accounting

Accountants were not aware in 1989 when IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies was authorized that they unknowingly destroy real value in existing reported constant items never maintained by implementing financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units - traditional HCA - during inflation and hyperinflation. All destruction of the real value of constant items (e.g. the erosion of companies´ profits and capital) was and still is mistakenly blamed on inflation and hyperinflation.

Nor were accountants aware in 1989 that the only way to stop that destruction was with continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power during inflation and hyperinflation. Fortunately, this did not prevent the IASC Board from authorizing continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as an alternative to traditional HCA in the Framework, Par 104 (a). Unfortunately no-one chooses continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power because of the predominance of HCA and the three popular accounting fallacies:

1) The stable measuring unit assumption - approved by the IASB.
2) Financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units - approved by the IASB
3) The erosion of companies´ profits and capital caused by inflation - accepted by the IASB.

If the IASC Board in 1989 were aware of the fact that only continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power could stop forever accountants´ unknowing destruction of the real value of constant items never maintained because of their implementation of the HCA model during inflation and hyperinflation, they would have pointed that out to accountants and left it up to them to choose the alternative option to stop the destruction. The IASC Board stated in the Framework, Par 110 that it was not their intention to prescribe a specific accounting model except in the case of hyperinflation at that time.

They still did not prescribe continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation, but simply restatement of all non-monetary items in HC and current cost financial statements by applying the CPI at the financial year end to make them more useful during hyperinflation. That clearly indicates that they were not aware of its permanent constant real value maintaining function at that time. It is an objective / function of accounting / general purpose financial reporting to maintain the real value of constant items stable by means of continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power during inflation, hyperinflation and deflation.

This is the reason for IAS 29´s failure in stopping the accounting based hyper-destruction of real value in constant items never maintained in hyperinflationary economies.

Kindest regards

Nicolaas Smith

Hyperinflation

Historical Cost accountants freely choosing to measure financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units - a 700 year old generally accepted accounting practice (which is a popular accounting fallacy approved by the IASB) - in terms of the Framework, Par 104 (a) or as the traditional HCA model in terms of GAAP, unknowingly hyper-destroy the real value of reported constant items never maintained because they implement their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption (another IASB approved popular accounting fallacy) during hyperinflation. They know and admit that this destruction is occurring during inflation and hyperinflation and that it is especially evident during hyperinflation, but, they mistakenly blame inflation and hyperinflation (instead of their own choice of the HCA model) for the erosion of companies´ profits and capital - the third very popular accounting fallacy.

Hyperinflation is defined by the IASB in IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies as a rate of inflation approaching or surpassing 100% cumulative inflation over three years. 26% annual inflation for three years in a row would result in cumulative inflation of 100% over that period.

The IASB requires countries to implement IAS 29 during hyperinflation as defined above. IAS 29 requires companies to value all non-monetary items – both variable and constant items – in units of constant purchasing power by applying the CPI at the financial year end date.

Accountants freely choosing continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power would maintain the real value of all existing reported constant items stable in companies that at least break even during low inflation, hyperinflation and deflation per se for an unlimited period of time – all else being equal. Continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power (an IASB approved accounting model) is the only way to maintain the real value of constant items stable in companies that at least break even during low inflation, hyperinflation and deflation per se – ceteris paribus.

In short:

1.) Accountants unknowingly destroy massive amounts of real value in the real economy with traditional HCA during inflation and hyperinflation.

2.) The only way to stop that destruction is with another freely available accounting model also authorized by the IASB in 1989; namely, continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power during inflation and hyperinflation.

Unfortunately IAS 29, as it is currently formulated, does not incorporate continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation. IAS 29 requires that all non-monetary items (variable and constant items) in HC or current cost financial statements are restated in terms of the CPI, generally at the year end date, to make the financial statements more useful during hyperinflation. IAS 29 is about the restatement of financial statements to make them more useful during hyperinflation. It is, unfortunately - currently, not the objective of IAS 29 to engender continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power and to continuously maintain the real values of non-monetary items during hyperinflation although it is almost correctly formulated to be used for this purpose. When it were to be used for this purpose it would stop the hyper-destruction of the real economy during hyperinflation. It would instead ensure economic stability in the real economy during hyperinflation. It is not currently the objective of IAS 29 to maintain the real value of constant items for an unlimited period of time by implementing continuous financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation because the IASC Board and accountants in general were not yet aware of this function of accounting during inflation and hyperinflation at the time of authorizing IAS 29 in 1989 for reasons explained before.

PricewaterhouseCoopers tell us very succinctly what happens under IAS 29:

"Inflation-adjusted financial statements are an extension to, not a departure from, historical cost accounting. "

PricewaterhouseCoopers: International Financial Reporting Standards - Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies – Understanding IAS 29, p. 3

Kindest regards,

Nicolaas Smith

Objective of general purpose financial reporting

The objectives of general purpose financial reporting are:

1) Automatic maintenance of the constant purchasing power of capital in all entities that at least break even - ceteris paribus.¹ ²


2) Provision of continuously updated decision-useful financial information about the reporting entity to capital providers and other users.

The objectives try to answer the question: what is accounting suppose to do?

Continuous financial capital maintenance to continuously maintain the real value of capital stable can only be measured in units of constant purchasing power during inflation, hyperinflation and deflation.

Financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units per se is a complete fallacy, even though it is a very popular accounting fallacy, it is authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par 104 (a) in 1989 and even though it is 700 years old, a SA Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and forms part of real value destroying generally accepted traditional Historical Cost Accounting used by everyone. It still is a fallacy that costs SA about R200 billion per annum in real value unknowingly, unnecessarily and unintentionally destroyed by SA accountants implementing their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption - the second of the three very popular accounting fallacies - two of which are authorized by the IASB in the exact same Framework, Par 104 (a).

A company has continuously maintained the real value of its capital stable if it has as much capital - expressed in units of constant purchasing power - at the end of the reporting period as it had at the beginning of the period, after excluding any distributions to, and contributions from, owners during the period. Consequently: a profit is earned only if the constant purchasing power of the net assets at the end of the period exceeds the constant purchasing power of net assets at the beginning of the period, after excluding any distributions to, and contributions from, owners during the period.

Continuous financial capital maintenance implies maintaining the constant purchasing power of constant items by continuously applying the monthly CPI during low inflation and deflation. The daily parallel rate is continuously applied during hyperinflation.

Variable items are continuously valued in terms of IFRS excluding the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation and deflation. Variable items are continuously valued in units of constant purchasing power during hyperinflation by applying the daily parallel rate.

Monetary items are money held and items with an underlying monetary nature valued in nominal monetary units during the reporting period. The net monetary loss or gain from holding monetary items is included in net income.

¹ “It is the overall objective of reporting for price changes to ensure the maintenance of the business as an entity.”

Accounting for Price Changes: An Analysis of Current Developments in Germany, Adolf G Coenenberg and Klaus Macharzina, Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, 3.1 (1976), P 53.

² The Framework, Par 104 (a): "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or units of constant purchasing power."

Kindest regards,

Nicolaas Smith

Three popular accounting fallacies: two IFRS approved

SA accountants preparing their companies’ financial reports in compliance with IFRS are required, in terms of the IASB´s Framework, Par 104 (a), to choose between measuring financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power. They actually have to choose the one or the other measurement basis. The choice is not made for them like under GAAP where Historical Cost Accounting is the generally accepted accounting model.

The Framework, Par 104 states that the financial and physical concepts of capital stated in Par 102 give origin to the financial and physical capital maintenance concepts.

The Framework, Par 104 (a) states:

“Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or units of constant purchasing power.”

Consequently, it does not simply state that the economic item financial capital can be measured in nominal monetary units, but, financial capital maintenance can be measured in nominal monetary units. Generally stated financial capital maintenance implies maintaining the real value of financial capital stable – all else being equal. However, under the Historical Cost model it is assumed that the monetary unit of account is stable: the very destructive stable measuring unit assumption. Under the HC model it is thus assumed that the real value of financial capital is maintained stable with measurement in nominal monetary units. The statement that financial capital maintenance can be measured in nominal monetary units which implies that financial capital is maintained stable in real value is a very popular fallacy amongst accountants. It is mostly a deceptive, misleading and false statement. It is only true per se in theory at sustainable zero inflation. It is always false per se during inflation and deflation in real terms. It is only true during low inflation when qualified to the effect that it is required that a company invests 100% of its Issued Share Capital, Share Premium Account and Non-distributable Reserves in revaluable fixed assets which always have a revalued or not revalued total real value equal to the updated real value of the original real values of those items.

The IFRS statement “Financial capital maintenance can be measured … in nominal monetary units” would only be true – per se – in nominal and real value terms in one single theoretical instance: it would only be possible to maintain the nominal and real value of financial capital stable in nominal monetary units per se – all else being equal – at sustainable zero inflation: an economic environment that has never been achieved in monetary history and is not very likely to be achieved any time soon or in the distant future. The above IASB statement is not a fallacy at zero inflation. It is, however, a purely theoretical statement: we have never had, we do not have and we most probably will never have sustainable zero inflation anywhere in the monetary economy.

It is impossible to maintain the real value of financial capital stable with measurement in nominal monetary units per se during low inflation and deflation. The above IFRS statement is thus false in terms of real value during low inflation and deflation. The real value of financial capital measured in nominal monetary units is being destroyed at a rate equal to the inflation rate during low inflation when a SA company has no revaluable fixed assets by its accountant’s choice of the HCA model during low inflation. The nominal value of financial capital is maintained in nominal value by measuring it in nominal monetary units during low inflation and deflation. This is, however, a popular fallacy: a false, misleading, unsound, inappropriate and deceptive notion in real value terms. HCA is an inappropriate accounting model authorized by the IASB which adds to general economic instability in SA´s low inflationary economy. It causes massive destruction of reported constant items´ real values, e.g. the real value of all existing reported Retained Earnings, during low inflation in the SA economy. It causes economic instability in the real economy as the real value of companies´ profits and capital is destroyed in this manner. This is mistakenly blamed on inflation by accounting standard setters, accounting authorities, accounting professors and lecturers as well as accountants.

The above IFRS statement is true in nominal value, false in real value and a fallacy during deflation. It results in economic instability during deflation by creating real value in constant items valued in nominal monetary units.

The IASB approved fallacy of financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units during low inflation leads to SA accountants unnecessarily, unknowingly and unintentionally destroying about R200 billion per year in the real value of SA companies´ existing reported constant items because of their implementation of the stable measuring unit assumption in SA´s low inflationary environment.

The above is one of the three popular accounting fallacies. They are the following:

1. The stable measuring unit assumption: IFRS approved
2. Inflation erodes companies´ profits and capital (The FASB loves this one)
3. Financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units: IFRS approved (The IASB loves this one)

These three fallacies constitute the very destructive basis of the traditional generally accepted IFRS authorized Historical Cost Accounting model fully approved in most probably all SA companies.

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

IFRS statement mainly a destructive fallacy

SA accountants doing their companies’ accounting in compliance with IFRS are required, in terms of the IASB´s Framework, Par 104 (a), to choose between measuring financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units or in units of constant purchasing power.

The IFRS statement “Financial capital maintenance can be measured … in nominal monetary units” in the Framework, Par 104 (a) is mainly a destructive fallacy.

It would only be true – per se – in nominal and real value terms in one single theoretical instance: It would only be possible to maintain the nominal and real value of financial capital constant in nominal monetary units per se at sustainable zero inflation – an economic environment that has never been achieved in all of monetary history and is not very likely to be achieved any time soon or even in the distant future.

The IASB statement is not a fallacy at zero inflation. It is, however, a purely theoretical statement at zero inflation: We have never had, we do not have and we most probably will never have sustainable zero inflation anywhere in the monetary economy.

Kindest regards,

Nicolaas Smith

Destructive GAAP

SA accountants consider their unknowing destruction of the real value of existing reported constant items in SA companies by their free choice of implementing the stable measuring unit assumption as part of the traditional Historical Cost Accounting model to be similar to the cost of inflation which is not accounted under HCA during low inflation. They are consequently satisfied when it is also not accounted. They do not see the destruction of real value in companies´ profits and capital as a separate item from inflation. To them it is all part of the “erosion” caused by inflation. They are dead wrong. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items. Inflation can only destroy the real value of money and other non-monetary items which are items with an underlying monetary nature.

The IASB authorized an alternative basic accounting model, financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power in the Framework, Par 104 (a) which SA accountants are free to choose which would allow them to stop their unknowing destruction caused by their choice of the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation.

SA accountants do not know they are destroying about R200 billion in real value each and every year when they freely choose, in terms of the Framework, Par 104 (a), an IASB authorized 700 year old traditional, generally accepted accounting model complaint with IFRS; consequently, they do not look for a solution: they ignore the other option in Par 104 (a), namely, financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power.

The cost of inflation, i.e., the net monetary loss from holding monetary items is not accounted under HCA during low inflation. This is not the same as the cost of the stable measuring unit assumption: the unknowing destruction of constant items´ real values by SA accountants´ choice of measuring them in nominal monetary units implementing the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation, when inflation can only destroy the real value of the Rand, the monetary unit of account. This is the cost of a destructive Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) by SA accountants. This cost is also not accounted under HCA during low inflation. It thus appears to be the same as the net monetary loss - the cost of inflation. However, it is not the same, even though the IASB, FASB and most people think it is.

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

Blind leading the blind

In 2008 I agreed with the statement that inflation destroys the value of non-monetary items which do not maintain their real values. I agreed at the time but later I realized that it is wrong. Inflation has no effect on the real value on non-monetary items. It was stated that SA accountants are not doing the destroying, but inflation. That is dead wrong. They unknowingly destroy about R200 billion per year in the real values of SA banks´ and companies´ reported constant items, e.g. reported Retained Profits, never maintained, either under SA GAAP or implementing the stable measuring unit assumption.

SA accountants, it was stated, simply do not record this destruction. So, SA accountants know and admit that there is real value being destroyed. It is dead right when it is stated that they do not record this destruction. Why? Because SA accountants also mistakenly think it is caused by inflation. They maintain that it is the monetary authorities´ task to contain inflation which would reduce this cost. They mistakenly regard the destruction caused by their choice to implement the stable measuring unit assumption as “the erosion of business profits and invested capital caused by inflation” (FASB). They consider it to be similar to the cost of inflation which is not accounted under HCA during low inflation. They are consequently satisfied when it is also not accounted. They do not see it as a separate item. To them it is all part of the “erosion” caused by inflation.

Inflation is the well known enemy number one. SA accountants´ choice of the stable measuring unit assumption is the unknown but real enemy number two camouflaged by the fact that it has been authorized by the International Accounting Standard Board in International Financial Reporting Standards with its statement in the Framework, Par 104 (a) in 1989 that financial capital maintenance can be measured in nominal monetary units. That statement is only theoretically true as an accounting principle. It is impossible to maintain capital in nominal monetary units - per se - in our low inflationary economies.


IFRS are principles-based standards. That statement is only, in fact, true at sustainable zero inflation, an economic environment that has never been achieved in the past and is not likely to be achieved any time soon in the future - if ever. The IASB´s statment is generally false: it is false for all of economic history as well as the current state of the world and SA economy: it is thus generally false and can even be considered a fantasy. It´s result is the destruction by SA accountants - who freely choose the stable measuring unit assumption - of about R200 billion in the real value of SA banks´ and companies´ constant items never maintained in SA´s low inflation environment each and every year.
Almost like the blind leading the blind. Everybody blinded by an IFRS fantasy principle which is part of SA GAAP and the basis of the 700 year old traditional Historical Cost Accounting model.

All this can be stopped when SA accountants freely choose the other option also authorized by the IASB twenty years ago in the Framework, Par 104 (a):

"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetay units or units of constant purchasing power."

Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Nicolaas J Smith

SA´s second enemy camouflaged by IFRS approval

It was stated that inflation destroys the value of non-monetary items which do not maintain their real values. I agreed at the time but later understood that this is wrong. Inflation has no effect on the real value on non-monetary items. To that way of thinking SA accountants are not doing the destroying, but inflation. That is dead wrong. SA accountants unnecessarily and unknowingly destroy about R200 billion per year in the real values of SA banks´ and companies´ reported constant items, e.g. reported Retained Profits, never maintained either under SA GAAP or with their free choice of measuring financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units implementing the stable measuring unit assumption in terms of the IASB´s Framework, Par. 104 (a) which states that financial capital maintenance can be calculated in either units of constant purchasing power or in nominal monetary units.

According to that view, SA accountants simply do not record this destruction. That is dead right: they do not record it because they also mistakenly think it is caused by inflation and they can do nothing about it as their actions do not affect inflation. They mistakenly think the cost of the stable measuring unit assumption is similar to the cost of inflation: the net monetary loss from holding monetary items, the only harm caused - and able to be caused - by inflation, which is not accounted under HCA during low inflation. It is not the same.

What SA accountants ignore is the fact that the IASB authorized an alternative basic accounting model, financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) twenty years ago which they are free to choose which will allow them to stop their unknowing destruction of about R200 billion in the real value of SA banks´ and companies´ constant items which they unknowingly destroy each and every year by measuring them in nominal monetary units implementing their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption under HCA in SA´s low inflationary economy.

The cost of inflation, i.e., the net monetary loss from holding monetary items is not accounted under HCA during low inflation. This is not the same as the cost of the stable measuring unit assumption: the unknowing destruction of constant items´ real values by SA accountants´ choice of measuring them in nominal monetary units implementing the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation, when inflation can only destroy the real value of the Rand, the monetary unit of account. The latter is the cost of a destructive Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) by SA accountants, namely, valuing constant items in nominal monetary units implementing the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation. This cost is also not accounted under HCA during low inflation. It thus appears to be exactly the same as the net monetary loss - the cost of inflation. However, it is not the same, even though most people think it is.

The indisputable proof - from an accounting standards point of view - that inflation does not destroy the value of non-monetary items which do not maintain their real values is the fact that the cost of this destruction is not calculated as part of the net monetary loss in FAS 33: US Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 33 Financial Reporting and Changing Prices. It is thus a mistaken view. FAS 33 required the purchasing power gain or loss on net monetary items to be presented as supplementary information in published annual reports in companies using HCA during inflation.

IAS 29 also requires the calculation of the net monetary gain or loss from holding monetary items, but, during hyperinflation rejecting the stable measuring unit assumption; i.e. measuring all non-monetary items in units of constant purchasing power. There is no cost from the stable measuring unit assumption when it is not applied. In practice, it is normally exactly the opposite in hyperinflationary economies which do not follow the Brazilian example by indexing all non-monetary items. In practice, it is the stable measuring unit assumption that is applied even under hyperinflation which hyper-destroys the non-monetary or real economy together with hyperinflation in monetary items which hyper-destroys the monetary economy. The two enemies in the economy: the one seen as a monster, the other – wreaking maybe even more damage – a stealth enemy camouflaged by IFRS approval.

Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Nicolaas J Smith

Capital is a variable item or monetary item in SA

Capital is a constant real value non-monetary item.

However, there is no constant real value non-monetary item capital in South Africa under the Historical Cost Accounting model during low inflation.

Issued Share Capital and Share Premium Account values are, in fact, treated as variable items under HCA when a SA company owns revaluable fixed assets.

Issued Share Capital and Share Premium Account real values depend on the variable real non-monetary values of the fixed assets over time determined at fair value in terms of IFRS during low inflation.

When SA companies have no revaluable fixed assets under HCA, capital is, in principle, treated the same as a monetary item (money or cash) and SA accountants unknowingly destroy its real value at a rate equal to the rate of inflation because of their choice of the HCA model which include their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption in SA´s low inflationary environment.

Capital will only become a constant real value non-monetary item in the SA economy when SA accountants freely choose financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) twenty years ago. This is compliant with IFRS.

SA accountants are told that it is not them but inflation doing the destroying. That statement is dead wrong.  Most people think it is inflation doing the destroying. The US FASB sums up this view very well in its statement: “ the erosive impact of inflation on profits and capital ".

Copyright © 2005-2010 Nicolaas J Smith

Sticky salaries and wages

The constant real value non-monetary items salaries and wages are generally sticky downwards: it is not easy for firms to reduce them in nominal value.

It is, of course, very easy to reduce their real values during inflation: just keep them the same or increase them at a rate lower than the inflation rate.

It may happen that it could be some time before the concept of enhanced economic stability during deflation via financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power is generally accepted.

Salaries and wages would then be automatically decreased in nominal value by means of measurement in units of constant purchasing power while their real values would stay the same during deflation. This would improve economic stability substantially and help central banks in their task of getting the economy into a low inflationary mode again. It would also reduce the level of the monetary effect of lower prices during deflation.

Salaries and wages are already being decreased in nominal value in the labour market during deflation, but, not yet by measuring them in units of constant purchasing power in terms of the negative change in the CPI.

There is a lot to be learned about how financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) as an alternative to the real value destroying traditional Historical Cost Accounting model would enhance general economic stability substantially during both low inflation and deflation. It would remove a great part of the distortion in the economy caused by SA accountants´ choice to implement their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption.

This is besides maintaining about R200 billion per annum in the SA constant item economy unnecessarily, unknowingly and unintentionally currently being destroyed by SA accountants´ choice of the stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation.

SA accountants mistakenly blame their unnecessary, unknowing and unintentional destruction of the real value of companies´ capital and profits on inflation since they do not value and account it the same way they do not value and account the net monetary gain or loss from holding monetary items during low inflation and deflation although this can be done according to Kapnick.

SA accountants can not stop the destruction of real value of monetary items in the SA monetary economy. The SARB with its monetary policy and the government with its economic policies have to reduce inflation which would reduce the amount of real value destruction in the monetary economy. The late Milton Friedman so famously stated "Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon." Inflation can only destroy the real value of the Rand and other monetary items in the SA monetary economy - nothing else. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items

“Purchasing power of non monetary items does not change in spite of variation in national currency value.”

Prof Dr. Ümit GUCENME, Dr. Aylin Poroy ARSOY, Changes in financial reporting in Turkey, Historical Development of Inflation Accounting 1960 - 2005, Page 9.

SA accountants can easily stop their about R200 billion annual destruction of the profits and capital of SA banks and companies and its negative effect on economic growth and employment during low inflation.

When SA accountants freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as the IASB authorized them 20 years ago, they would value and account the cost of inflation during low inflation as they are already required (forced) to do during hyperinflation in terms of IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies. They would also maintain about R200 billion in SA banks´ and companies´ existing profits and capital by not unknowingly destroying that amount each and every year as they are unknowingly doing right now in existing reported constant items, e.g. all reported Retained Profits in all SA banks and companies, never maintained in the SA non-monetary or real economy with their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption during low inflation. This would have a positive impact on economic growth and employment for an unlimited period of time.

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

IASB got it wrong: there are 3 not just 2

"One can say that capital, as a category, did not exist before double-entry bookkeeping". Werner Sombart

Professor William Paton noted in 1922, "the value of the dollar — its general purchasing power — is subject to serious change over a period of years... Accountants... deal with an unstable, variable unit; and comparisons of unadjusted accounting statements prepared at intervals are accordingly always more or less unsatisfactory and are often positively misleading.”

Monetary items are money held and items with an underlying monetary nature.

Non-monetary items are all items that are not monetary items.

Non-monetary items are subdivided in

a) Variable real value non-monetary items and
b) Constant real value non-monetary items.

Constant items are non-monetary items with constant real non-monetary values measured in units of constant purchasing power in terms of the CPI over time normally expressed in terms of money in a non-hyperinflationary economy.

Hyperinflation is defined as an exceptional circumstance by the IASB and all non-monetary items – variable and constant items - are required to be valued in units of constant purchasing power in terms of IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies.

IAS 29 defines monetary items incorrectly as “money held and items to be received or paid in money”. Most items, monetary and non-monetary items are generally received or paid in money as the monetary medium of exchange. The fact that the IASB defines non-monetary items as all items in the income statement and all other assets and liabilities in the balance sheet that are not monetary items, after having defined monetary items incorrectly, leads to the wrong classification of some non-monetary items, notably trade debtors and trade creditors, as monetary items by the Board. This results in the net monetary gain or loss being calculated incorrectly by companies implementing IAS 29 in hyperinflationary economies.

The above definition of non-monetary items describes them generically. It is thus defined by the IASB that there are only two fundamentally distinct items in the economy: monetary and non-monetary items and that the economy is divided into two parts: the monetary economy and the non-monetary or real economy. IAS 29 and other IFRS are based on this premise.

It is not true that there are only two basic economic items as defined by the IASB. There are three fundamentally different basic economic items in the economy:

1. Monetary items
2. Variable items
3. Constant items

The above definition of constant items is confirmed by the IASB in the Framework by implication. The fact that certain non-monetary items have constant real non-monetary values is implied by the IASB in the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements.

“In the absence of a Standard or an Interpretation that specifically applies to a transaction, management must use its judgement in developing and applying an accounting policy that results in information that is relevant and reliable. In making that judgement, IAS 8.11 requires management to consider the definitions, recognition criteria, and measurement concepts for assets, liabilities, income, and expenses in the Framework. This elevation of the importance of the Framework was added in the 2003 revisions to IAS 8." Deloitte, IAS Plus

IAS 8.11
“In making the judgement, management shall refer to, and consider the applicability of, the following sources in descending order:

(a) the requirements and guidance in Standards and Interpretations dealing with similar and related issues; and

(b) the definitions, recognition criteria and measurement concepts for assets, liabilities, income and expenses in the Framework.”

There are no applicable IFRS or Interpretations regarding the capital concept, the capital maintenance concept and the valuation of constant items. The explicit and implied definitions of these items in the Framework are thus applicable.

The Framework, Par. 102 states that most companies choose a financial concept of capital to prepare their financial reports. An entity’s capital is the same as its shareholders´ equity or net assets when it adopts a financial concept of capital, for example, invested purchasing power or invested money.

Par. 103 states that the needs of financial report users should determine the choice of the correct concept of capital by a company. If the users of financial reports are mainly concerned with the maintenance of nominal invested capital or the maintenance of the purchasing power of invested capital then a financial concept of capital should be chosen.

Par. 104 states that the concepts of capital stated in Par. 102 give origin to the financial capital maintenance concept. Par. 104 (a) states:

"Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units or units of constant purchasing power."

Constant items are non-monetary items with constant purchasing power non-monetary values measured in units of constant purchasing power in terms of the CPI over time normally expressed in terms of money in a non-hyperinflationary economy.

Kindest regards,

Nicolaas Smith

SA´s second economic enemy

There are two processes of systemic real value destruction in the SA economy, although it is generally accepted that there is only one economic enemy. This is a mistake. The first process is by the well known enemy inflation. This economic enemy manifests itself in the Rand´s store of value function and only destroys real value in the SA monetary economy. Inflation can only destroy the real value of the Rand and other monetary items in the SA monetary economy - nothing else. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items.

The second economic enemy is SA accountants´ choice of traditional HCA which includes their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption. This second process of systemic real value destruction manifests itself in accountants´ stable measuring unit assumption only in the constant item part of the SA non-monetary or real economy when they freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units when they implement the traditional HCA model in most SA companies during low inflation.

Accountants (and everyone else) make the mistake of blaming the destruction of companies´ profits and capital by their choice of traditional HCA - which includes the stable measuring unit assumption - on inflation.

Accountants identify the problem, namely, that the real value of companies´ profits and capital are being destroyed over time during inflation when implementing HCA. They blame inflation.

The US Financial Accounting Standards Board blames inflation:

“In Mr. Mosso's view, conventional accounting measurements fail to capture the erosion of business profits and invested capital caused by inflation.”

Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 33, P. 24


They blame the wrong enemy. They blame inflation when it is in fact their free choice of traditional HCA; specifically the stable measuring unit assumption. When they freely choose financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power, as the IASB authorized them 20 years ago, they would stop their unknowing and unintentional destruction forever. It is thus completely unnecessary and easily avoidable destruction by SA accountants´ choice of traditional HCA of the investment base and long term capital of SA banks and companies and their corollaries: sustainable economic growth and employment.

Everyone only sees one enemy in the economy being responsible for all of the invisible and untouchable systemic real value destruction in the economy. They think inflation is responsible for all real value destruction in the economy.

SA accountant feel that the SARB with its monetary policies and the SA government with its economic policies should lower inflation which would lower the destruction of companies´ profits and capital.

They are under inflation illusion: the mistaken belief that inflation destroys companies´ profits and capital when it is accountants´ choice of HCA - which includes the stable measuring unit assumption.

This second enemy is a stealth enemy since the way it operates is not understood by SA accountants and accounting lecturers at SA universities. If they understood it, they would have stopped it by now as they have been authorized by the IASB in the Framework, Par. 104 (a) in 1989.

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

SA accountants blame inflation but admit it´s the stable measuring unit assumption

SA accountants unknowingly destroy the real value of reported Retained Profits in companies over time during low inflation implementing their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption as part of the real value destroying traditional HCA model in exactly the same way as the real value of your salary is destroyed over time during low inflation when your salary is measured in nominal monetary units, i.e. when it is not updated during low inflation.

The real value of your salary is also not destroyed by inflation because inflation can not destroy the real value of any non-monetary item and never has in the past. Your salary is a non-monetary item as defined by the IASB in IAS 29 where it is stated that all income statement items are non-monetary items, in fact, they are all constant real value non-monetary items. Inflation can only destroy the real value of money and other monetary items - nothing else.

It is SA accountants´ choice of measuring unit that destroys the real value of your salary when your salary is measured in nominal monetary units (actually SA accountants´ stable measuring unit assumption) because your salary can be measured in units of constant purchasing power, i.e. it can be inflation-adjusted. Then it will not matter what the rate of inflation is, the real value of your salary will always be maintained: 2% or 2000% like in the case of Brazil which during 30 years of hyperinflation of up to 2000% inflation per annum maintained their real or non-monetary economy stable with indexation (which is, in principle, the same as valuation in units of constant purchasing power) while they had up to 2000% annual inflation in their monetary economy.

It is exactly the same with reported Retained Profits.

SA accountants unnecessarily, unknowingly and unintentionally destroy the real value of all existing reported Retained Profits never maintained in all SA companies, currently at 5.9% per annum, with their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption - all else being equal. They can freely stop their continuous destruction of SA companies´ long term capital and investment base with its negative impact on economic growth and employment, by freely choosing to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power in terms of the IASB´s Framework, Par. 104 (a). SA accountants unknowingly destroy about R200 billion per annum in SA companies´ existing reported constant items never maintained in this manner.

SA accountants blame this on inflation.

SA accountants are very strongly under inflation illusion.


© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

Inflation illusion

Most accountants agree  that "inflation influences reported results". Everybody blames "inflation". Yes, inflation destroys the real value of money and other monetary items - but, nothing else. Inflation has no effect on the real value of non-monetary items.

“Purchasing power of non monetary items does not change in spite of variation in national currency value.”

Prof Dr. Ümit GUCENME, Dr. Aylin Poroy ARSOY, Changes in financial reporting in Turkey, Historical Development of Inflation Accounting 1960 - 2005, Page 9.

Because the net montary gain or loss from holding monetary items is not accounted under HCA, the monetary item cost of inflation is not accounted in low inflationary economies. Everybody, and I mean everybody: IASB, FASB, all accountants, all economists, etc, they all think it is "inflation" "eroding" companies´ capital, as they say. They never say destroy when erode and destroy are exactly the same thing in this case.

However, it is simply accountants with their free choice of the stable measuring unit assumption who are unknowingly and unintentionally destroying the real value of existing reported constant items never maintained, e.g. reported Retained Profits, during low inflation. No-one forces them into HCA. Because "they simply do not record it"  they think the "erosion" of the real value of companies´ profits and captial is also done by "inflation" and this cost or destruction of real value is also "not recorded". So, they are all very blasé about the situation: Gill Marcus and the ANC control inflation according to them.

The central bank with its monetary policy and the government with its economic policies have to bring down inflation and lower the "erosion" of companies´ profits and capital caused by "inflation". Everybody thinks it has absolutely nothing to do with accountants, accounting standard setters and the 700 year old traditional Historical Cost Accounting model.

Meanwhile, the IASB has actually already approved the Framework, Par. 104 (a) twenty years ago stating "Financial capital maintenance can be measured in either nominal monetary units (HCA as the whole world does) or units of constant purchasing power". The units of constant purchasing power option would stop this completely unnecessary and unknowing destruction of real value in existing reported constant items never maintained by SA accountants forever.

Why don´t they do it? It´s been there for 20 years! They are highly educated and very experienced accountants, aren´t they?

Accountants were prisoners of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice till 1989. The IASB set them free from HCA with Par. 104 (a) 20 years ago. Most of them don´t know that. Since they think the rate of inflation equivalent destruction of the real value of companies´ existing reported retained profits and capital, not backed by sufficient revaluable fixed assets, is inflation´s fault, they do not look for a solution in IFRS. They do not know there is an IFRS solution for a national economic problem they do not even know they cause directly. They do not know their choice of HCA is the cause of the problem. They do not even know they make a choice. They think there is no choice - like under GAAP. They can freely change to the IFRS compliant IASB approved option of measuring financial capital maintenance in units of contstant purchasing power during low inflation and deflation any time they want. No-one stops them.

They think it is "inflation" doing the destroying and they state: it is not recorded just like the destruction of the real value of the Rand and other monetary items - the actual and only harm done by inflation - is not recorded under HCA, although it can be done according to Harvey Kapnick, a past president of Arthur Anderson.

I call this inflation illusion: the mistaken belief that inflation destroys companies´ profits and capital when it is accountants´ choice of HCA which includes the stable measuring unit assumption.

It is clear that when you have R40 billion in existing reported Retained Profits, then R2.4 billion of its real value would be destroyed during a year when Retained Profits are valued in nominal monetary units and inflation destroys 6% of the real value of the Rand, the monetary unit of account in SA. Everyone will also agree that when accountants freely choose to measure financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power as approved by the IASB in the Framework, in Par. 104 (a) in 1989, then the real value of that R40 billion at the beginning of the year (stated in beginning of the year CPI value) would be R42.4 billion at the end of the year CPI value. When it is not done which is the current situation in SA, then those accountants are unnecessarily destroying R2.4 billion of the real value of the R40 billion - as all accountants in SA are doing right now in companies with existing reported Retained Profits in their companies. No-one can deny that.

It is not a matter of extra money to maintain capital: it is a capital maintenance concept in a double entry accounting model: it is a matter of measuring financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power by implementing a double entry accounting model in all the company´s assets, liabilities, income and expenses in a low inflationary environment - as approved by the IASB 20 years ago and compliant with IFRS.

So, it is not inflation doing the destroying. It is SA accountants freely choosing to measure financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units in terms of the IASB´s Framework, Par. 104 (a) whereby they implement the traditional HCA model which includes their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption. They simply assume that the destruction of the real value of the Rand below 26% per annum for 3 years in a row is not sufficiently important for them to change to measuring financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power. They only inflation-adjust some income statement items, e.g. salaries, wages, rentals, etc during inflation below 26% per annum for 3 years in a row.

When inflation increases to 26% per annum for 3 years in a row and above, they immediately change their minds: then they would inflation-adjust not only constant items but also variable items. They would inflation-adjust all non-monetary items as required by IAS29.

But, only as long as annual inflation stays above 26% for three years in a row. When inflation drops below 26% per annum for 3 years in a row, they will again refuse to inflation-adjust capital and retained profits: they will happily go back and unknowingly destroy those real values at, say 20% per annum - as they are doing now at 5.9% and as they were doing not so long ago at 13% annual inflation in SA.

Strange, isn´t it? Well, SA accountants unnecessarily, unknowingly and unintentionally destroy about R200 billion per annum in real value in the long term capital and investment base and its corollaries, economic growth and employment, in SA companies each and every year - all else being equal. They will carry on with their annual unknowing destruction as long as they refuse to abandon their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption while SA experiences low inflation up to 26% per annum for 3 years in a row.

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith.   All rights reserved
    No reproduction without permission

The IASB and FASB still get this wrong - but not street vendors.

Money cannot be declared by statute or by institutional definition to be a non-monetary item. Money is either money or it is not money. To be money it has to fulfil the three functions of money in an economy: medium of exchange, store of value and unit of account.

This applies to non-monetary items too. Trade debtors and trade creditors are defined incorrectly by the International Accounting Standards Board and US Financial Accounting Standards Board to be monetary items. They are generally non-monetary items. Defining them as monetary items means the net monetary gain or loss in companies with trade debtors and trade creditors will always be calculated incorrectly under the IASB and FASB definition.

They are generally non-monetary items. All street vendors in hyperinflationary economies know that trade debtors and trade creditors (or their equivalents) are non-monetary items by experience, even if they have never been to school.

The IASB and FASB still get this wrong.

Who else got it right? Brazil got it right for 30 years from 1964 to 1994 as confirmed by the previous head of the Central Bank of Brazil, Dr Gustavo Franco:

When I asked him: "Were trade debtors and trade creditors treated as monetary items under the URV and not updated or were they treated as non-monetary items an updated in terms of the Unidade Real de Valor? What are trade debtors and trade creditors in your opinion? Are they monetary or non-monetary items?"

He responded: "Dear Mr. Smith

I am not sure I understood your question. If I got it right, two observations are in order. First, for spot transactions the existence of the URV is imaterial, sums of means of payment are surrendered in exchange for goods, all delivered and liquidated on spot. Second, the unit of account enteres the picture only when at least one leg of a commercial transaction is defferred. In this case, the URV serves the purpose of defining the price at the day of the contract. The same quantity of URVs are to be paid at the payment day, though this should represent larger quantities of whatever means of payment is used.

It was essentil, in the Brazilian case, and this may be a general case, that the URV was defined as part of the monetary system. It has a lot to do with jurisprudence regarding monetary correction; URV denomiated obligation had to be treated as if they were obligations subject to monetary correction. In the URV law it was defined that the URV would be issued, in the form of notes, and when this would happen, the URV would have its name changed to Real, and the other currency, the old, the Cruzeiro, was demonetized.

Att

GF"

© 2005-2010 by Nicolaas J Smith. All rights reserved

No reproduction without permission.

Capital as a variable item and as a constant item

I am not dealing with the value of a business entity´s capital or stock as determined in the market.

As we all know, the term capital has many meanings. As far as it relates to a company it also refers to various different things.

The capital of a business entity has, amongst others, the following two meanings:

(1) The market capitalization of a company; i.e. the market value of one share times the number of shares issued. This "capital" or stock of a company is a variable real value non-monetary item. Its value is determined in the market at market price as per IFRS. I agree 100% with that.

(2) The shareholders´ equity which includes, issued share capital, share premium account, reported retained profits, retained losses, share discount account, capital reserves, revaluation reserve, etc. These items are all constant real value non-monetary items. Currently they are being valued in nominal monetary units by HC accountants world wide during low inflation with the exception of the accounting process of property revaluations via the revaluation reserve account. Only the real value of issued share capital and share premium account can be maintained via sufficient property revaluations via the revaluation reserve account. This real value maintenance can not be applied to other reported items in shareholders´equity, e.g. reported retained profits.

All items in shareholders´ equity are constant real value non-monetary items and - in order to maintain their real values constant during low and hyperinflation - their real values have to be valued in units of constant purchasing power during low inflation and hyperinflation by means of financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power. When this is not done, i.e. when they are currently valued in nominal monetary units, their real values are being destroyed by HC accountants implementing their very destructive stable measuring unit assumption - with the exception of issued share capital and share premium account, the real values of which can be maintained indefinitely with sufficient unreported and hidden revaluable holding gains in fixed property.

I only deal with the valuation of constant real value non-monetary items in companies. I only deal with the "capital" of a company as defined in (2). As far as (1) is concerned, I agree 100% with its valuation in terms of IFRS; i.e., at market value.

Kindest regards,

Nicolaas Smith