Culture and Accounting Practices in Turkey

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of cultural values on accounting practices in Turkey by applying Gray's theory (Gray, 1988) of socio-cultural factors on accounting values and practices. We compared the model of accounting with accounting-profession authority, the quality and uniformity of financial disclosures, and accounting measurements in present Turkey. This country is a unique case among developing countries because of its specific geopolitical and cultural features. Our results confirm Gray's theory that high uncertainty avoidance and low individualism are positively associated with high conservative accounting measurements. In addition, the study confirms that the highest power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and the lower individualism are positively associated with accounting uniformity. However, large power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, and collectivisms negatively affect professionalism and financial disclosures.