摘要：The idea of electronic Standard Business Reporting (SBR) has achieved remarkable heights in developed economies over the last decade. With the development of XBRL in 1998 by Charlie Hoffman and subsequent introduction of the first SBR projects in the Netherlands and Australia less than ten years after, an important question therefore arises: what level of similar advancement has been achieved in emerging economies and what are the possible implications for the future of financial reporting in these countries. To analyze this topic, Nigeria has been chosen as a reference point. To enhance objectivity, an empirical approach was engaged through a structured survey directed at professional accountants in the Big Four accounting firms with offshore offices located in the country. This information was sought in order to assess the future of electronic Business Reporting in Nigeria in line with the global trend of harmonizing the accounting profession. Results show that respondents share the view that XBRL implementation would improve the Nation’s Corporate Governance process. Although there exist over 50 XBRL projects in 15 Economies in Europe and over 10,000 voluntary filers in Northern America, respondents are of the view that substantial adoption of XBRL in Nigeria is likely to be influenced by mandatory requirement. This outcome suggest that there should be reform patterns of behaviour of market agents and regulatory agencies to encourage the adoption of XBRL Taxonomy interactive data, so as to provide the channel for the most adequate mechanism of electronic Business Reporting that would assist the Nation’s capital market reach its desired global marketplace for developmental purposes.
关键词：Standard Business Reporting;XBRL;financial reporting;corporate governance;regulatory agencies;market agents;capital market;Nigeria
