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Trade Receivables
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Receivables [Abstract]  
Trade Receivables Trade Receivables
The following table shows the breakdown in trade receivables net book value for the presented periods:
Year Ended December 31,
20212020
(in thousands)
Trade accounts receivables$627,379 $513,954 
(Less) Allowance for doubtful accounts(45,391)(39,899)
Net book value at end of period$581,988 $474,055 

Changes in allowance for doubtful accounts are summarized below:
Year Ended December 31,
202120202019
(in thousands)
Balance at beginning of period$(39,899)$(16,068)$(25,918)
Allowance for credit losses through retained earnings (*)
— (3,522)— 
Provision for doubtful accounts(14,433)(30,818)(11,072)
Reversal of provision7,485 11,555 20,811 
Currency translation adjustment1,456 (1,046)111 
Balance at end of period$(45,391)$(39,899)$(16,068)
(*) From January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). ASU 2016- 13 replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss model which requires the use of forward-looking information to calculate credit loss estimates. This results in earlier recognition of credit losses. We adopted ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2020 with the cumulative effect of adoption recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings (note 1).
The amount of provision for doubtful accounts for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 decreased compared to the same period in the prior year due to lower bankruptcies in 2021 and the severe impact of COVID-19 on the Company's cash collections in 2020, caused by the downturn in the economy which has led to financial difficulties for some of our customers. In times of the global economic turmoil brought about by COVID-19, our estimates and judgments with respect to the collectability of our receivables are subject to greater uncertainty than in more stable periods.
The reversal of provision decreased during the twelve month period ended December 31, 2021, mainly due to lower payments received and lower write-offs of long outstanding receivables already reserved for which it is certain we will not collect the receivable. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2021, the Company recovered $2.3 million previously provisioned for and accounted for as a reversal of provision.
The Company mitigates its credit risk with respect to accounts receivables by performing credit evaluations and monitoring agencies and advertisers' accounts receivables balances.
We write off accounts receivable balances once the receivables are no longer deemed collectible.