GAAP lists and describes the qualitative characteristics that make accounting information useful for decision-making purposes. The FASB viewed the characteristics as a hierarchy of qualities that make accounting information useful. The FASB stated that accounting information must possess both relevance and faithful representation qualities to be useful, but it was noted that relevance and faithful representation may conflict with each other in some instances. For example, to increase relevance, faithful representation may have to be sacrificed, or vice versa.
Required:
a. Define "relevance" and "faithful representation" and list the components or "ingredients" of each quality.
b. Give an example in financial accounting that illustrates the following tradeoffs:
1) Relevance is sacrificed in order to make accounting information more reliable.
2) Faithful representation is sacrificed in order to make accounting information more relevant.

Question

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The Answer of GAAP lists and describes the qualitative characteristics that make accounting information useful for decision-making purposes. The FASB viewed the characteristics as a hierarchy of qualities that make accounting information useful. The FASB stated that accounting information must possess both relevance and faithful representation qualities to be useful, but it was noted that relevance and faithful representation may conflict with each other in some instances. For example, to increase relevance, faithful representation may have to be sacrificed, or vice versa.
Required:
a. Define "relevance" and "faithful representation" and list the components or "ingredients" of each quality.
b. Give an example in financial accounting that illustrates the following tradeoffs:
1) Relevance is sacrificed in order to make accounting information more reliable.
2) Faithful representation is sacrificed in order to make accounting information more relevant.

GAAP Lists and Describes the Qualitative Characteristics That Make Accounting