Abstracts

Abstracts

1. Non ـ Persian section

Le développement et la tendance à l’harmonisation du contrôle des finances publiques

Loïc PHILIP

La tendance générale à l’harmonisation du contrôle des finances publiques que l’on peut observer devrait déboucher, non pas sur un modèle unique, car les traditions et les pratiques des différents pays sont trop diverses, mais du moins sur un modèle référent comportant un plus grand nombre de points communs.

L’évolution générale du contrôle des finances publiques est assez bien illustrée par l’exemple de la France. Ce pays a créé, en 1807, un système de contrôle fondé sur le jugement des comptes des comptables, fonction qui aujourd’hui est devenue secondaire. En revanche, son rôle de conseil et d’audit, avec la certification des comptes, est devenu primordial. Par ailleurs, à l’image des réformes opérées dans plusieurs pays, le contrôle s’opère davantage au sein du Parlement dont les prérogatives ont été renforcées avec la réforme budgétaire de 2001 et la présentation des crédits par missions et programmes, la globalisation des moyens et la responsabilisation des directeurs de programmes. On peut penser que cette même évolution s’opérera dans un nombre de pays de plus en plus important.

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La notion de finances publiques en ce début de XXI° siècle Gilbert ORSONI

Il est toujours malaisé, en temps réel, de mesurer la portée véritable d’un changement, fut-il profond. Aussi une certaine modestie est-elle de mise concernant l’appréciation des évolutions récentes des finances publiques. Sans doute assiste-t-on, construction européenne et mondialisation obligent, à de forts rapprochements tant des concepts que des pratiques. Rapprochement n’est cependant pas unification ni même uniformisation. Sachant notamment qu’en matière de finances publiques, la part du politique n’est jamais absente et que, par delà les constatations des évolutions récentes vers des logiques où la part des instruments familiers à l’entreprise est croissante, ne doit pas être oubliée non plus la part irréductible de ce qui relève de la sphère publique et de l’intérêt collectif. Ce dernier, n’ayons garde de l’omettre, n’étant pas nécessairement la somme des intérêts individuels.

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2. Persian section

Editorial

Ali HAJIPOUR

Iranians are among the earliest civilizations who, because of their culture, place great importance on notions such as treasury, revenue and expenses, taxes, and mintage.

Unfortunately, today Iran is lagging behind global advances in the field of finance. Finance in general, and financial law in particular, is not well known in Iran’s educational system. By underestimating the legal approach to finance, they normally treat it as an economic discipline.

This journal tries to help the Iranian readers toward a better understanding of finance as a science, and especially to expand the legal approach to the question of finance. The word finance is basically the short form of "public finance".

We are fully aware of the importance of such an undertaking, ie. the task of helping to found this science. We hope that publication of this journal will provide an opportunity to establish and then expand the legal discussions on the finance. We also hope that, this would make the authorities in the judiciary and in the government to pay more attention to the question and take it more seriously, and at the same time, the officials at the universities will be encouraged to set up new fields in finance such as ’public finance’ and ’tax law’.

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Some selected points of Iran’s financial laws and regulations in comparison with budgetary principles

Ali Reza FARZIB

The budgetary principles are the logic of setting up, preparing, and execution of the budget, and we know that logic is a science that prevents the mind from committing errors. The budgetary principles emphasize that if the setting up, preparation, and execution of budget are carried out according to these principles, it would provide necessary facilities for supervision of budgetary implementation. Therefore, it is important that these principles should somehow be regulated. Article 52 of The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution emphasizes that the budget should be drawn up and arranged within the legal framework.

However, in spite of some statements about Iran’s financial rules and regulations within the framework of budgetary principles, this law is not as clear and as transparent as it should be.

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An analysis of ratification of budgetary bill in the Iranian Parliament

Isa DANESHPOUR BAKHSHAYESH

One of the legal rights of the parliament is to ratify the annual budgetary bill. Ratification of budget in Iran dates back to Constitutional Revolution of 1906, and today it is a sign of separation of powers. The parliament reviews the bill presented to it by the President. In accordance with Guardian Council’s interpretation of article 52, and expressed edicts of article 75 of the Constitution, the annual budget should be prepared as governmental bill, and not as private one. During the reviewing stages, parliament can make changes to the bill, but after the ratification, changes can only come about in the form of amendments, rectifications and private bills. In the form of private bills it is possible only if the ways of remedying income reductions and covering new costs are made clear.

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Legal basis and responsibility limitations of governmental employees where violations of rules have taken place – with emphasis on the authority of the Supreme Audit Court, part one Sadegh MENATINEJAD

Within the existing rules and regulations governing Islamic Republic of Iran, it is difficult to find common principles and laws on the official, civil, and penal responsibilities of government employees. However, a review of Iran’s Constitution shows that in Iran’s legal system the power and the position of governmental agents do not exempt them from responsibility. Governmental agents, as real persons, such as the president, ministers, ordinary government employees, etc., must be accountable according to the level of their responsibilities.

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A look at the issue of ’double tax’ in Iran

Ali BADAMCHI

In order to provide public services, governments have no choice but to tax its people and businesses. Levying such a tax and subsequent payment based on legislations passed by parliamentarians, creates a problem called ’double tax’. Double tax may have different meanings, but this article looks at the payment of taxes from one source, in two different countries, which is interpreted as double tax.

Double tax and the related challenges require foresight and finding ways to remedy the problem. These ways and methods and the behavior of Iran’s direct taxation law toward double tax, are examined in this article.

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Taxation in the Achaemenian period

Ali Reza MOSLEMI

Considering the fact that before Darius there had not been an accurate system for collecting taxes, steps were therefore taken by Darius I to help stabilize the economic condition of the realm and improve the agricultural sector, such as the establishment of security, arrangement of taxes, and mintage. As a result, Iran’s financial position during the Achaemenian Dynasty improved significantly. On the other hand, tax control and setting limits for taxation helped to free the farmers from being exploited by landlords. At the same time, reforms of the tax laws, together with various amendments to these laws, created a favorable commercial environment and helped the businesses to thrive.

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Wising Up about Finance

Leslie Lipschitz, translator: Sadr HAJIPOUR

This article explores the centrality of finance to macroeconomic analysis by focusing on three rather practical cases: the first centered on balance sheet vulnerabilities, the second on the interaction of domestic monetary policy with global financial markets, and the third on a national stabilization program in a highly integrated capital market.

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Corporate Sector Restructuring: The Role of Government in Times of Crisis,

Mark.R.stone, translator: Reza FARAHANI

This article examines steps involved in restructuring of the corporate sector. Large-scale corporate restructuring made necessary by a financial crisis is one of the most daunting challenges faced by economic policymakers. The government is forced to take a leading role, even if indirectly, because of the need to prioritize policy goals, address market failures, reform the legal and tax systems, and deal with the resistance of powerful interest groups.

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A review of the literature concerning Earnings Management

Vahid BIGLARI

This article considers the literature developing theories about when and where the earnings management takes place. From a range of motives that could drive earnings management, this article focuses its attention on factors which affect firms valuation. If earnings management makes firms to look better than what they actually are, this may lead to a worsening of society’s well being, and consequently, to the poor allocation of resources. Acquiring a better knowledge about earnings management, will increase the investor’s knowledge, and would lead them to better decisions and hence, improved welfare.