Determinants of Accounting Policy for R & D Costs

연구개발비에 대한 회계정책 결정요인 분석

This study investigates the factors determining accounting method for R & D costs (capitalize vs. expense) in Korea. Using agency theory and other economic factors, probit and regression models have been developed to distinguish between firms choosing different accounting alternatives for R&D costs. The results are consistent to debt contract, R&D burden and regulation hypotheses both in probit and regression analysis. The size variable has opposite sign in univariate t-test and probit analysis but the signs are mixed and insignificant in regression which may be due to the differences of political environment between Korea and the US. Generally, the results are consistent to those of previous research. The results support the hypothesis that firms with higher leverage and larger burden of R&D costs are more likely to capitalize R&D costs. Partially, larger and regulated firms are more likely to expense R & D costs.