No abstract

The purpose of the research in this paper is to examine the regulation and practices of external segment reporting in the Republic of Serbia. The importance of research stems from a great potential usefulness of segment information for investors and creditors. The analysis of regulation suggests that the Republic of Serbia has highquality and internationally recognized basis of external segment reporting -IFRS 8. However, there is a room for improvement of IFRS 8. The analysis of practices, conducted on a sample of 500 companies, shows that companies in the Republic of Serbia, in general, do not attach great importance to the disclosure of segment information in financial statements. The practices are quite miscellaneous, which is a consequence of the flexibility of IFRS 8, but also an incomplete compliance with IFRS 8. By applying statistical techniques we have examined whether the practices of external segment reporting are related to characteristics of companies, which makes the originality of the paper. We have found that financial institutions disclose more extensive quantitative segment information in relation to other companies in the Republic of Serbia, and that companies with higher assets disclose more extensive segment information. The research indicates that there is a significant room for improving the practices of external segment reporting in the Republic of Serbia. The research results may be useful for regulators of financial reporting and preparers and auditors of financial statements.

The aim of the paper is to reveal how financial statement preparers in the developing and transition country of the Republic of Serbia, behave in situations where they can choose between the valuation model based on historical cost and the valuation model based on fair value. In that regard, we have analysed the subsequent measurement of property and plant and equipment in Serbia. We find that companies are more likely to choose the historical cost model than the revaluation model (the model based on fair value) for owner-occupied properties and plant and equipment, and the fair value model rather than the historical cost model for investment properties. The willingness to use the revaluation model for subsequent measurement of owner-occupied properties and plant and equipment varies across different categories of companies, and we find a statistically significant relationship between that willingness and the legal form of the company. We also find that in the notes to their financial statements, a significant number of companies in Serbia do not disclose adequate information on the model used for subsequent measurement of property and plant and equipment, although such information is required by the applicable financial reporting standards.

In this paper the authors analyse the respondents' opinions on the techniques of strategic cost management from the aspect of the size of the company, business activity, legal form, as well as the respondents' opinion in relation to the generated profit/loss in the company they work in. The research is based on the sample of 33 companies in the Republic of Serbia, and it was conducted using survey questionnaires. The results show that the application of strategic cost management techniques is negligible, but that the respondents are aware of the potential benefits. Moreover, it has been established that there are no differences in the respondents' opinions when considered from the above aspects. АпстрактУ овом чланку аутори су анализирали ставове о техникама стратегијског управљања трошковима са аспекта величине, делатности и правне форме предузећа, као и ставове испитаника у зависности од остварења нето добитка или губитка у предузећу у коме су испитаници запослени. Истраживање је засновано на узорку од 33 предузећа из Републике Србије, а спроведено је на основу анкетних упитника. Резултати показују да је примена техника стратегијског управљања трошковима занемарљива, али да су испитаници свесни њихових потенцијалних користи. Поред тога, утврђено је да не постоје разлике између ставова испитаника о истим посматрано са раније наведених аспеката.Кључне речи: стратегијско управљачко рачуноводство, стратегијско управљање трошковима, трошкови.

This paper aims to examine solvency and fixed assets financing of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector (Sector A) in the Republic of Serbia. We also examine whether there is a difference between this Sector’s enterprises and entrepreneurs regarding these two aspects of their financial position. The research is based on the Financial Statements Annual Bulletins available on the official website of the Serbian Business Registers Agency. The period of six consecutive years is covered (2013-2018). Solvency and fixed assets financing were analyzed separately for Sector A enterprises and entrepreneurs. Standard ratio indicators were used to determine these relevant aspects of financial position. The conducted analysis showed differences between this Sector’s enterprises and entrepreneurs regarding the solvency. The research results revealed that, despite a slight improvement in certain solvency indicators, entrepreneurs were insolvent during the observed period. The fixed assets financing indicators showed that the lack of equity for new investments financing was compensated mainly by long-term borrowing at enterprises’ level and by short-term borrowed sources at entrepreneurs’ level.