Ahmad W. M. Evaluating the level of electronic disclosure of both the Iraq Stock Exchange and the Dubai Stock Exchange using the benchmarking method

Abstract

The present research addresses one of the contemporary accounting issues, namely the failure of some financial markets to keep pace with technological developments, specifically in the use of electronic disclosure, or the inadequacy of the disclosed information in meeting the current stage's requirements. The Iraq Stock Exchange is considered one of these markets, and thus it was selected to assess the level of electronic disclosure and to identify the means to enhance that level in accordance with the current stage's requirements, serving decision-makers, especially investors.

To achieve this, benchmarking was used as one of the tools, by comparing electronic disclosure in the Iraq Stock Exchange with that of a developing market, using the Dubai Financial Market as an example. The comparison revealed that the level of electronic disclosure in the Iraq Stock Exchange is weak, representing the second stage of electronic disclosure development, and that it provides only half of the information disclosed on the Dubai Financial Market’s website.