ABSTRACT The “Accounting Identity,” Assets = Liabilities + Equity, is emblematic of the quest for a concise and universal conceptual framework for the discipline of accounting. This essentially idealistic aspiration stands in opposition to more context-sensitive perspectives, such as socio-historical and postmodern schools of accounting thought. We examine these competing paradigms on both the macro level of standards setting and on the more intimate level of professional identity. In this paper, we argue that the practice of accounting finds stronger support and commonality with context-sensitive intellectual traditions than with idealist approaches. We advocate a vision for the “identity of accountants” grounded in appreciation of our own intellectual heritage and accounting's distinctive role in society.
{"title":"The Accounting Identity and the Identity of Accountants: Accounting's Competing Paradigms through the Prism of Professional Practice","authors":"J. Cataldo, J. Mcinnes","doi":"10.2308/APIN-10122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/APIN-10122","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The “Accounting Identity,” Assets = Liabilities + Equity, is emblematic of the quest for a concise and universal conceptual framework for the discipline of accounting. This essentially idealistic aspiration stands in opposition to more context-sensitive perspectives, such as socio-historical and postmodern schools of accounting thought. We examine these competing paradigms on both the macro level of standards setting and on the more intimate level of professional identity. In this paper, we argue that the practice of accounting finds stronger support and commonality with context-sensitive intellectual traditions than with idealist approaches. We advocate a vision for the “identity of accountants” grounded in appreciation of our own intellectual heritage and accounting's distinctive role in society.","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"19 1","pages":"116-129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2308/APIN-10122","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68953543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ABSTRACT Recent interest in the accounting profession should translate into an inspection of its leadership. Why certain people are leaders and other people are not is a question that bears upon the chances that the profession can regain its stature in the eyes of the public. Even without crisis, an examination of the portals of power adds to our appreciation for the social organization of the accounting profession. Using Accounting Today's list of the 100 most influential people in the field over the first decade of the 21st century, this paper describes these individuals. In many ways, this array reveals the existence of a profession much different than that broadly appreciated in academic circles.
{"title":"Leadership in Accounting: The New Face of an Old Profession","authors":"T. Fogarty, S. A. Al-Kazemi","doi":"10.2308/APIN-10073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/APIN-10073","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Recent interest in the accounting profession should translate into an inspection of its leadership. Why certain people are leaders and other people are not is a question that bears upon the chances that the profession can regain its stature in the eyes of the public. Even without crisis, an examination of the portals of power adds to our appreciation for the social organization of the accounting profession. Using Accounting Today's list of the 100 most influential people in the field over the first decade of the 21st century, this paper describes these individuals. In many ways, this array reveals the existence of a profession much different than that broadly appreciated in academic circles.","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"11 1","pages":"16-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2308/APIN-10073","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68953075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ABSTRACT Due to fiscal constraints and demands for increased accountability, scholars and public officials are reviewing the structure and reporting practices of local governments. These efforts are often incomplete, however, because they bypass special districts, which now comprise over 40 percent of all local governments. The proliferation of special districts has the potential to increase government costs, redirect the allocation of scarce resources, remove debt and expenditure practices from the public eye, and reduce democratic controls over elected officials. This paper highlights some of the public interest concerns related to these entities to inform future, localized research. For decades, scholars have approached special districts from two opposing theoretical perspectives: institutional reform and public choice. Literature from these opposing perspectives is used to analyze special districts along three dimensions: efficiency and economy of operations, policy alignment and allocation of resourc...
{"title":"The Continuing Problem of Special Districts in American Government","authors":"Larita J. Killian","doi":"10.2308/APIN-10076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/APIN-10076","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Due to fiscal constraints and demands for increased accountability, scholars and public officials are reviewing the structure and reporting practices of local governments. These efforts are often incomplete, however, because they bypass special districts, which now comprise over 40 percent of all local governments. The proliferation of special districts has the potential to increase government costs, redirect the allocation of scarce resources, remove debt and expenditure practices from the public eye, and reduce democratic controls over elected officials. This paper highlights some of the public interest concerns related to these entities to inform future, localized research. For decades, scholars have approached special districts from two opposing theoretical perspectives: institutional reform and public choice. Literature from these opposing perspectives is used to analyze special districts along three dimensions: efficiency and economy of operations, policy alignment and allocation of resourc...","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"11 1","pages":"52-67"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2308/APIN-10076","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68953419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Leadership in Accounting: The New Face of an Old Profession","authors":"R. Roberts","doi":"10.2308/apin-11-1-130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/apin-11-1-130","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"11 1","pages":"130-137"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68954134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ABSTRACT Financial reporting operates in a changing social landscape. One focus of change in the contemporary social landscape is growing recognition of the impact of human activity on the natural environment, a significant part of which derives from economic activity. Evidence exists that financial statement users want environmental accounting information, yet it remains underdeveloped. This underdevelopment becomes notable because it is increasingly clear that long-term economic viability is wholly dependent on ecological sustainability. This study furthers our understanding of financial reporting, accounting standards, and the standard-setting process as institutional practices in the U.S. by exploring whether voices raising these emerging concerns find receptivity in accounting standards setting. Searle's (1995, 1998) work on constructing institutional reality provides the theoretical frame. Results add a layer of empirical analysis to prior accounting research using this frame to critique the opennes...
{"title":"Developing Collective Intentionality and Writing the Rules of the Game for Environmental Reporting: A Content Analysis of SOP 96-1 Comment Letters","authors":"Janet Luft Mobus","doi":"10.2308/APIN-10123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/APIN-10123","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Financial reporting operates in a changing social landscape. One focus of change in the contemporary social landscape is growing recognition of the impact of human activity on the natural environment, a significant part of which derives from economic activity. Evidence exists that financial statement users want environmental accounting information, yet it remains underdeveloped. This underdevelopment becomes notable because it is increasingly clear that long-term economic viability is wholly dependent on ecological sustainability. This study furthers our understanding of financial reporting, accounting standards, and the standard-setting process as institutional practices in the U.S. by exploring whether voices raising these emerging concerns find receptivity in accounting standards setting. Searle's (1995, 1998) work on constructing institutional reality provides the theoretical frame. Results add a layer of empirical analysis to prior accounting research using this frame to critique the opennes...","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"11 1","pages":"68-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2011-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68953603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.2308/API.2010.10.1.36
J. C. Robertson, R. Houston
ABSTRACT: Following high-profile accounting scandals (e.g., Enron), Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which established the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB conducts regular inspections of audit firms and issues inspection reports that describe audit deficiencies identified during the inspections. One purpose of these reports is to improve public confidence in auditor credibility. We conduct a between-subjects experiment to provide initial evidence concerning investors’ perceptions of audit opinion credibility following PCAOB inspections. While we find an overall increase in perceptions of the credibility of future audit opinions, the degree to which perceptions increase is a function of three salient characteristics of PCAOB reports. Specifically, we find that investors anticipate more (less) improvement in the credibility of future opinions when: (1) inspections contain high (low) severity deficiencies; (2) firms respond to the reports with concessions (denials); and (3...
{"title":"Investors’ Expectations of the Improvement in the Credibility of Audit Opinions following PCAOB Inspection Reports with Identified Deficiencies","authors":"J. C. Robertson, R. Houston","doi":"10.2308/API.2010.10.1.36","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.36","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT: Following high-profile accounting scandals (e.g., Enron), Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which established the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The PCAOB conducts regular inspections of audit firms and issues inspection reports that describe audit deficiencies identified during the inspections. One purpose of these reports is to improve public confidence in auditor credibility. We conduct a between-subjects experiment to provide initial evidence concerning investors’ perceptions of audit opinion credibility following PCAOB inspections. While we find an overall increase in perceptions of the credibility of future audit opinions, the degree to which perceptions increase is a function of three salient characteristics of PCAOB reports. Specifically, we find that investors anticipate more (less) improvement in the credibility of future opinions when: (1) inspections contain high (low) severity deficiencies; (2) firms respond to the reports with concessions (denials); and (3...","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"10 1","pages":"36-56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.36","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68952947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.2308/API.2010.10.1.57
Paula A. Wilson, Fern Zabriskie
ABSTRACT: Hardrock mining companies contribute positively to the U.S. economy. However, they also cause serious degradation to the surrounding environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hardrock mining companies are among the greatest polluters in the United States. Mining companies are responsible for satisfying legal obligations arising under environmental laws that include cleanup and exit costs for all mines shut down. These environmental liabilities are called asset retirement obligations and under FAS No. 143, U.S. mining operators are required to recognize their asset retirement obligations upon acquisition or construction of their mines. In this paper, we examine the financial reporting for asset retirement obligations for gold mining companies. Based on a simple ratio analysis, it appears that top U.S. gold mining operators have sufficient financial resources to meet their future asset retirement obligations. However, when we conducted sensitivity analysis to exclude intangibl...
{"title":"When the Gold is Gone: Reporting of Asset Retirement Obligations for the Ultimate Cleanup of Closed Mining Operations","authors":"Paula A. Wilson, Fern Zabriskie","doi":"10.2308/API.2010.10.1.57","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.57","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT: Hardrock mining companies contribute positively to the U.S. economy. However, they also cause serious degradation to the surrounding environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hardrock mining companies are among the greatest polluters in the United States. Mining companies are responsible for satisfying legal obligations arising under environmental laws that include cleanup and exit costs for all mines shut down. These environmental liabilities are called asset retirement obligations and under FAS No. 143, U.S. mining operators are required to recognize their asset retirement obligations upon acquisition or construction of their mines. In this paper, we examine the financial reporting for asset retirement obligations for gold mining companies. Based on a simple ratio analysis, it appears that top U.S. gold mining operators have sufficient financial resources to meet their future asset retirement obligations. However, when we conducted sensitivity analysis to exclude intangibl...","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"10 1","pages":"57-87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.57","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68952993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.2308/API.2010.10.1.122
J. Andrew
ABSTRACT: In 2008, the New South Wales (NSW) Government announced its intention to privatize two of the State’s prisons. This was a significant change in policy, a move that was justified publicly on the grounds that it would produce significant cost savings. This paper explores the way costs have been referenced within the public discussion on prison privatization in NSW to provide a basis for the decision. Little externally verifiable evidence could be found to support the government’s claim that the proposed privatization would save tax-payer funds; instead, this work shows how justifications based on costs became self referential, taking on a life of their own. Given that there is little “real” evidence to argue the government’s policy was rational on cost grounds, this paper explores how references to costs in public debate can be used to justify and reinforce privatization decisions without significant critique.
{"title":"Prison Privatization: The (Ir)Relevance of Accounting","authors":"J. Andrew","doi":"10.2308/API.2010.10.1.122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.122","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT: In 2008, the New South Wales (NSW) Government announced its intention to privatize two of the State’s prisons. This was a significant change in policy, a move that was justified publicly on the grounds that it would produce significant cost savings. This paper explores the way costs have been referenced within the public discussion on prison privatization in NSW to provide a basis for the decision. Little externally verifiable evidence could be found to support the government’s claim that the proposed privatization would save tax-payer funds; instead, this work shows how justifications based on costs became self referential, taking on a life of their own. Given that there is little “real” evidence to argue the government’s policy was rational on cost grounds, this paper explores how references to costs in public debate can be used to justify and reinforce privatization decisions without significant critique.","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"10 1","pages":"122-137"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.122","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68953326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.2308/API.2010.10.1.88
Howard O. Rockness, Joanne W. Rockness
ABSTRACT: This paper evaluates the current state of ethics CPE requirements for the CPA profession in the context of the ethics literature in philosophy, business, and accounting and documents the development of state-level ethics requirements for CPAs. It presents a detailed analysis of ethics CPE requirements by state including hours required, frequency required, acceptance of ethics CPE across state lines, and course content. The paper then proposes changes in the content of CPE-required ethics courses consistent with the ethics education literature and to reduce the complexity of meeting multiple state requirements. The recommendations would improve the overall effectiveness of ethics CPE for CPAs.
{"title":"Navigating the Complex Maze of Ethics CPE","authors":"Howard O. Rockness, Joanne W. Rockness","doi":"10.2308/API.2010.10.1.88","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.88","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT: This paper evaluates the current state of ethics CPE requirements for the CPA profession in the context of the ethics literature in philosophy, business, and accounting and documents the development of state-level ethics requirements for CPAs. It presents a detailed analysis of ethics CPE requirements by state including hours required, frequency required, acceptance of ethics CPE across state lines, and course content. The paper then proposes changes in the content of CPE-required ethics courses consistent with the ethics education literature and to reduce the complexity of meeting multiple state requirements. The recommendations would improve the overall effectiveness of ethics CPE for CPAs.","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"10 1","pages":"88-104"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68953000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.2308/API.2010.10.1.13
Martin T. Stuebs, Brett R. Wilkinson
ABSTRACT: Tax practice is an integral component of the public accounting profession. Although accountancy as a profession embraces a strong public interest notion, there is an inevitable tension in...
摘要:税务实务是公共会计职业的重要组成部分。尽管会计作为一种职业有着强烈的公共利益观念，但在……
{"title":"Ethics and the Tax Profession: Restoring the Public Interest Focus","authors":"Martin T. Stuebs, Brett R. Wilkinson","doi":"10.2308/API.2010.10.1.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.13","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT: Tax practice is an integral component of the public accounting profession. Although accountancy as a profession embraces a strong public interest notion, there is an inevitable tension in...","PeriodicalId":38883,"journal":{"name":"Accounting and the Public Interest","volume":"10 1","pages":"13-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.2308/API.2010.10.1.13","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"68952874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：