"Recent changes in laws, regulations and even the reporting format of labor organization annual financial reports in both the US and Australia have received surprisingly little attention, yet they have significantly increased the amount of information available both to union members and the public in general, as reports in both countries are available via government web sites. While such financial reporting laws are exteremely rare in European countries, with the exception of the UK and Ireland, the US and Australian reporting systems have become among the most detailed in the world. After reviewing these changes in financial reporting and the availability of these reports, as well as comparing and contrasting the specific reporting requirements of each country, this paper then examines the cost-benefit impact of more detailed financial reporting."

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