Developing a Government Reporting Taxonomy

Abstract

ABSTRACT The municipal bond market is a $3.7 trillion market with approximately 75 percent of the market held by private investors (SEC 2012). Municipal bondholders and potential buyers do not have the same level of information as those investors choosing to invest in public companies. This inequity is, in part, the result of poor data accessibility. Frequently the data provided are in a format that does not allow easy comparison across governments or over time. To increase comparability and consistency in government reporting we build a government financial reporting taxonomy using the empirical approach. The completed taxonomy has 194 terms that cover financial statements filed by municipalities. Expert analysts and preparers in government reporting reviewed the completed taxonomy. This study has implications for the municipal reporting market and those entities that regulate them by providing a validated municipal government financial reporting taxonomy.