The eXtensible Business Reporting Language

Abstract

This chapter offers a theoretical analysis related to the eXtensible business reporting language (XBRL), a freely available computer language that has become the de facto standard for digital financial reporting. The aim is to deepen the role that XBRL could play within the public sector, which is partially different from its role in corporate reporting. Literature about that topic is lacking, and this research topic seems to be particularly relevant: considering the strong need for information transparency in government, strengthened by the financial crisis, XBRL could be a useful digital tool to push and improve governments' accountability and transparency. Finally, the authors briefly present the Italian case: after the experimental period conducted by the Court of Auditors from 2013 to 2015, and since the end of 2016, XBRL has been the mandatory format for submitting the financial statements of all public entities to the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.