Introduction

The first chapter, Chapter 1, is comprised of three sections. It makes the introduction. The first section provides a detailed background on our understanding of corporate financial reporting and performance as well as the interface between them given international financial accounting and standards (IAS and IFRS). The second section sets the main research goals and establishes the research objectives. It provides the motivations inspiring this very book. The third section presents the organization and structure of this book. Chapter 1 stresses the salience and relevance of globalization, explores some of its important effects in our financial world and vouches for a new approach. It lays the foundations on examining the strong bond between corporate financial performance and corporate financial reporting.