Toward a General Equilibrium Theory of Financial Reporting

Abstract

We present a model in which investment capacity is re-allocated in response to aggregate shocks and examine the resulting general equilibrium effects. The theory predicts a positive association between aggregate liquidity shocks, cost of capital, and conservative accounting. When capital becomes scarce, the accounting system is designed to preserve collateral, which depletes the supply of traded capital and leads to a higher cost of capital. The economy may respond to small shocks with large (discontinuous) readjustments in financial reporting policies, cost of capital, and investment activity. We show that accounting policies set by firms to increase their market value may imply multiple equilibria, with self-fulfilling inefficient equilibria exhibiting excessive collateral requirements and reduced aggregate investment.

Keywords: financial accelerator, accounting, general equilibrium, investment, conservatism

JEL Classification: D2, D5, D6, G01, G1, G2, M4