Daniel G. Short, The Impact of Price-Level Adjustment in the Context of Risk Assessment, Journal of Accounting Research, Vol. 16, Studies on Changes in General and Specific Prices: Empirical Research and Public Policy Issues (1978), pp. 259-272

[Previous research has questioned the use of COMPUSTAT capital expenditures data to layer fixed assets for the purpose of estimating constant dollar depreciation. This note compares the layering technique with the more popular alternative, the average age method. Estimated amounts were compared with actual data reported under FASB #33. The results indicate that the layering method provides estimates that exhibit less error, bias, and variance.]

Previous research has questioned the use of COMPUSTAT capital expenditures data to layer fixed assets for the purpose of estimating constant dollar depreciation. This note compares the layering technique with the more popular alternative, the average age method. Estimated amounts were compared with actual data reported under FASB #33. The results indicate that the layering method provides estimates that exhibit less error, bias, and variance.