The objective is to recognize an impairment when the economic value of an
asset (or cash generating unit comprised of a group of assets) is truly below its book
(carrying) value. In theory, and for the most part in practice also, an entity making
rational choices would sell an asset if its net selling price (fair value less costs of
disposal) were greater than the asset’s value in use, and would continue to employ the
asset if value in use exceeded salvage value. Thus, the economic value of an asset is
most meaningfully measured with reference to the greater of these two amounts, since
the entity will either retain or dispose of the asset, consistent with what appears to be its
highest and best use. Once recoverable amount has been determined, this is to be
compared to carrying value; if recoverable amount is lower, the asset has been impaired,
and this impairment must be given accounting recognition. It should be noted that value
in use is an entity-specific value, in contrast to fair value, which is based on market
price. Value in use is thus a much more subjective measurement than is fair value, since
it takes account of factors available only to the individual business, which may be
difficult to validate. The determination of the fair value less costs to sell (i.e., net selling
price) and the value in use of the asset being evaluated will typically present some
difficulties. For actively traded assets, fair value can be ascertained by reference to