Description: Pension accounting standards continue to evolve across the globe with objectives, methods and assumptions varying, sometimes substantially, from one jurisdiction to the next. The presenters will compare the primary global pension accounting standards (US GAAP and IFRS), review recent developments and address whether or not the current standards adequately serve stakeholders such as plan participants, investors, management and regulators.

Description: Disclosure of pension information to employees, stockholders and government has been a major public issue in the United States in recent years with enactment of the disclosure and reporting provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and, more recently, publication of the new accounting and disclosure requirements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board. This 1981 discussion session focuses on public disclosure of retirement plans in the United States and lessons that can be learned from experience with Canadian disclosure and reporting requirements.