Question: Violations of the Matching Principle (Easy) Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) notionally follow the matching principle. However, there are exceptions. Explain why the following accounting rules, required under GAAP, violate the matching principle.
a. Expenditures on research and development into new drugs are expensed in the income statement as they are incurred.
b. Advertising and promotion costs for a new product are expensed as incurred.
c. Film production costs are expensed prior to the release of films to theaters.