A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VOLUNTARY ACCOUNTING DISCLOSURES BETWEEN U.S. AND NON-U.S AIRLINE COMPANIES

Bert J. Zarb
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
ABSTRACT
The reporting of voluntary disclosures of accounting information is believed to increase
financial transparency and boost shareholder confidence. In a rapidly changing business
environment, more companies are choosing to voluntarily disclose accounting information as they
believe that such disclosures give them a competitive advantage. This study examines whether U.S.
airline companies voluntarily disclose financial information more than non-U.S. airline companies.
This study is a follow-up to the author’s previous paper which examined the voluntary accounting
disclosures in the airline industry. This study shows that, on average, U.S. airline companies
voluntarily disclose accounting information more than non-U.S. airline companies. The study also
shows that the differences in voluntary accounting disclosures between U.S. and non-U.S.
companies are not statistically significant.