The role of change agents and imitation in the diffusion of an idea: charge and discharge accounting

Medieval charge and discharge accounting was the most prevalent accounting system of its time. The first medieval charge and discharge system can be identified in the English Exchequer about 1110. This paper argues that the ideas behind the Exchequer were gradually diffused both internationally and nationally. This paper charts the export of charge and discharge systems to other European Exchequers, to monasteries and bishoprics, to lay estates, to manorial accounting, to guilds, boroughs, universities and parishes. From a single high status source at the start of the 12th century, charge and discharge accounting came to be imitated through mimetic and normative institutional isomorphism by a wide range of lower status medieval institutions by the late 15th century. In the first phase of diffusion, certain key individuals of wealth and power are identified as change agents. In the second phase, individuals, and accounting and estate management texts played an important role in the diffusion. The role of geographical proximity and accidents of history is also explored.     

Domesday book: An early fiscal,accounting narrative?

Domesday Book is one of the most important documents in English history. It has been much studied by social, economic and institutional historians. At its heart it is an accounting document. Domesday Book of 1086 is regarded as a landmark in accounting history, primarily because it heralded a written system of government accounting in England. It introduced an administrative framework from which eventually the English Exchequer and charge and discharge accounting evolved. Domesday Book was compiled during one of the most significant periods in English History just after the Conquest of England by William I. It reflected new King's need to consolidate his power. The purpose of this article is to examine Domesday Book as an historical accounting record, concentrating in particular, on one shire: Herefordshire. It shows how Domesday Book provided the king with comprehensive information about individual landowning and taxable capacity. In addition, Domesday Book is contextualised within the social and economic conditions of the time. Domesday Book is shown to be a device for royal consolidation, a political expression of royal power and a vehicle to raise taxes. It also provided the administrative and territorial basis upon which the Exchequer's embryonic disciplinary power could be developed.     

The Dialogus de Scaccario (c.1179): The First Western Book on Accounting?

There has been much interest in the first books on accounting in the Western world. However, generally this has focused on books on double‐entry bookkeeping. Double‐entry bookkeeping emerged in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and was first expounded in printed form in Pacioli's famous treatise in 1494. The system which double‐entry gradually supplanted was charge and discharge accounting. Charge and discharge accounting was widespread in medieval Britain. Its origins appear to have been in the English Exchequer about 1110. By the late twelfth century, it was well‐established. In 1177–79, Richard fitz Nigel wrote the Dialogus de Scaccario (Dialogue of the Exchequer) which explained its workings. This treatise, written in the form of a dialogue between master and disciple, outlines not only the duties of the parties involved, but also the accounting system which was employed. This book represents perhaps the first Western book on accounting.     

Changes in the Public Accounts Committee of a Less Developed Democratic Country: A Field Study

This paper complements prior studies on the public accounts committees (PACs) by considering the notions of ‘agency’ and ‘structure’ of institutional theory in tandem in understanding the changes in structures and activities of the PAC of a less‐developed democratic country – Bangladesh. While prior studies examined ‘external’ institutional pressures on the development and operation of the PAC in various settings, the role of internal and external institutional agents in this context has not been their primary focus. Our empirical evidence from a qualitative field study indicates that over the past two decades, Bangladesh's PAC underwent significant changes to its internal governance structures and administrative processes. While these changes were indirectly driven by pressures from international donor agencies, PAC members and the national audit office played a key role as institutional agents in initiating and institutionalising the changes in PAC governance and operation.     

The birth of a nation: Accounting and Canada’s first nations, 1860–1900

The 1860–1900 period was both the “birth” of Canada but also the birth and institutionalization of a specific set of social relations between the federal government and First Nations peoples. This study examines the roles played by accounting and funding relations within the process of nation building. Throughout this formative period in Canada’s history, governance was attempted via the introduction of financial legislation and enacted by the Indian Department and agents in the field. As our analysis highlights, legislative initiatives, Indian Department pronouncements and the activities of agents imposed, enlisted and implied a variety of accounting technologies. This study not only explores how the federal government has used accounting/funding mechanisms in the attempt to translate government policy regarding indigenous peoples into practice but also provides a history of the present by examining the historical consequences of these interventions.     

Shrinking the quango state: five challenges in reforming quangos

Some problems of governance regularly resurface, and the use and role of ‘quangos’— public bodies operating at arm's-length to ministers—is a case in point. The administrative history of the British state is littered with official reviews and political debates about quangos. Historically, governments, whatever their reforming zeal, have found it difficult to make substantial changes. Now the UK government has initiated a rapid and large-scale set of reforms. This article analyses these changes and highlights five challenges for governments wishing to reform arm's-length bodies: mapping, assessing, reconfiguring, saving, and accounting.     

内部控制理论研究新视野

全球性会计丑闻、中国新会计法的实施及内部会计控制一系列规范的出台,引起了人们对内部控制问题的广泛关注,但是,内部控制发展至今的理论基础仍然薄弱。本文从经济学、管理学、审计学等相关理论研究入手,提出内部控制研究只有运用丰富的公司治理理论并以管理控制口径来定位,才能取得突破性的进展,并形成有效指导内部控制实务的理论成果。     

Strategic Governance and Management Accounting: Evidence From a Case Study

This paper seeks to establish if top management (the board) of a firm should extend its overview of the governance process to the execution of strategy (i.e., strategic governance) and, if so, does the management accounting information system (MAIS) have a role in facilitating this strategy execution process. This study investigated the role of the board and MAIS in strategic governance by examining a company with a public record of both successful governance and integrated strategic management accounting processes in a high‐risk industry. The analysis demonstrates that boards should go beyond the minimum conformance (compliance) requirements of the governance‐regulatory legislation and assume ultimate responsibility for strategy execution and enterprise performance. However, while management accounting techniques, processes and reports were found to be used extensively in strategic governance to integrate the policy‐management interface in numerous conformance–performance domains, the traditional role of the management accountant was found to be limited in terms of their role in such governance. The study demonstrates that a more strategic governance role offers the management accountant a way back into senior management by using the routines of management accounting to socialize the board and curb any opportunism that may arise.     

In whose interest? An examination of public sector governance in Brunei Darussalam

This paper uses institutional and elite theories to interpret research interviews concerned with public sector governance in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam over the period 1998–2005. Despite the suggestion from international agencies (such as the WTO and the IMF) to improve governance in the public sector, the recent governance reform in the post-royal dynasty crisis period in Brunei is overtly displayed and covertly ignored by the main actors. The results show that public governance is not well developed. Using elite and institutional theories it is understood that the royal family played a dominant role in legitimizing their absolute power (using elites) over governance in public sector organizations.     

股权性质、环境不确定性与会计信息的治理效应

已有研究发现会计信息具有治理效应,但没有考虑会计信息治理效应所依赖的经理人侵占动机及外部环境所提供的机会;已有研究虽然考察了国有股权的治理效应,但由于没有考虑经理人谋取私利的可能性而使结论具有偏差。本文研究了股权性质、环境不确定性与会计信息质量对代理成本的交互作用。研究结果表明,低质量的会计信息不仅增加管理层利用公司资源的自利行为,而且还降低公司资产的使用效率,但会计信息的治理作用仅在环境不确定性高的公司中存在,同时,相对于非国有控股公司,会计信息质量在国有控股公司的治理作用较小。研究结果还表明,只有在环境不确定性较高且会计信息质量较低的情况下,国有控股公司的代理效率高于非国有控股公司。本文不仅验证了国有股权和环境不确定性对会计信息治理效应的影响,也验证了环境不确定性和会计信息质量对国有股权治理效应的影响。     

历史维度的国家审计研究——基于国家治理视角

国家治理的需求和目标决定了国家审计的产生和发展方向;国家审计是国家治理的重要组成部分,对权力的制衡发挥独特的作用.本文以国家治理的目标导向作为切入点,以历史维度为经,以国家审计治理政策为纬,探究了国家治理和国家审计的天然联系、适应性及地位作用的变化.国家审计治理是经济发展方式转变的内在要求和经济发展方式转变的现实需要,”溯往以为来者师也”,围绕今后一个时期我国政府体制改革的重点领域提出了国家审计治理的政策建议.     

会计师事务所内部治理：理论基础与机制创新

声誉、客户资源以及人力资本是会计师事务所的关键资源,也是事务所治理的主要对象.进入权是审计师控制和使用自身人力资本及其关键性非人力资本的能力.关键资源的控制和保留机制是事务所内部治理的关键所在,这一机制主要包括:决策权配置机制、剩余收益分配机制、授权机制以及合伙人遴选与退出机制.模型分析进一步表明,以进入权为基础的治理机制有利于事务所内部资源的优化配置,能够对审计师专用性人力资本投资形成有效激励.     

Influence of transnational economic alliances on the IFRS convergence decision in India—Institutional perspectives

This study contributes to the literature on global governance by highlighting the importance of not losing sight of the nation state as an important player in the transnational governance arena. Specifically, literature on global (accounting) regulation devotes a great deal of attention to the roles of organisations and agencies with transnational remit (such as global standard setters, donor agencies) while often downplaying the significant impacts of the more traditional cross- country links forged through economic relationships and resource dependencies between national and transnational institutional fields. This was specially noted in the case of the indirect influences of the US’s decision to delay IFRS convergence. While being interpreted as an indirect source of influence, such a decision played a very significant role on the convergence negotiations in India. The study shows how the US influence was channelled through Japan with which India has significant trade and economic relations and, most importantly, holds a joint forum specifically to discuss convergence issues. The consequences of India’s links with countries such as US and Japan in the decision-making process provide a vivid indication of the important roles of cross-governmental relationships in the global governance arena, and also question the position of transnational organisations as pervasive powers in such governance. The study’s findings clearly demonstrate that the pursuit of full IFRS convergence strongly favoured by the transnational forces was invariably challenged in the Indian context by the influences of powerful nation states advocating a more cautious approach.     

基于区块链技术的行政事业单位内部控制体系构建研究

行政事业单位内部控制是实现国家治理现代化的坚实基础和有力保障,是提升政府治理效能的客观要求.数字时代的来临,不仅推动了大会计融合的发展,也对行政事业单位内部控制建设提出新的挑战和更高的要求.本文采用规范研究方法,通过对信息化环境下行政事业单位内部控制体系局限性进行分析,提出基于区块链技术的内部控制体系的初步构想.以期借助区块链的核心技术优势,进一步优化和完善现有内部控制体系.     

我国民间非营利组织会计规范问题

文章分析了我国民间非营利组织在市场经济发展中的重要作用以及对其进行会计规范的必要性和紧迫性 ,并就我国民间非营利组织会计制度体系的设计和民间非营利组织的界定问题进行了探讨。最后 ,文章就我国民间非营利组织所涉及的基本会计问题及其规范作了重点研讨 ,并提出了规范建议     

AN EPISTEMIC COMMUNITY AS INFLUENCER AND IMPLEMENTER IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING IN AUSTRALIA

This paper explicates the dual role of epistemic communities as influencers of accounting policy within regulatory space and as implementers who effect change within the domain of accounting. Set within the context of New South Wales in Australia, and the challenge of the financial sustainability of its local councils, the study was informed by documentary sources, and used data from interviews and a survey. Accounting and finance professionals, as an epistemic community, played a pivotal role in formulating accounting policy and in embedding fair value measurement of infrastructure assets.     

Increasing the role of auditing in corporate governance

While critical accounting research has long been vitally interested in relationships between accounting, auditing and control of business organizations, mainstream research in accounting, finance and management has only recently displayed an increased interest in questions of corporate governance. The notion of corporate governance typically employed in mainstream research focus on enhancing benefits to shareholders. The structure and the functioning of boards of directors, and audit committees of such boards, are primary concerns within this line of research. This paper presents an alternative view of corporate governance and the role of auditing within corporate governance. We argue that the role of auditing should be increased in order to enhance the control of corporations for the benefit of all stakeholders and society generally.     

Unintended Consequences of Changing Accounting Standards: The Case of Fair Value Accounting and Mandatory Dividends

A growing body of literature investigates the interaction of changes in accounting standards with institutions such as investor protection laws and corporate governance mechanisms. We examine the unintended consequences of fair value accounting in determining mandated preferred dividends. We study the case of Russian energy conglomerate UES, which had a good corporate governance track record and a consistent dividend history. Following its adoption of fair value accounting, UES reported the highest quarterly profit in world corporate history, but it subsequently omitted dividends for all its shareholders. The case analysis suggests that the transitory nature of fair value adjustments and the interaction with the investment policy were important considerations in justifying the dividend omission. The reduction in preferred dividends was not offset by any capital gains, and led to a wealth transfer from preferred to ordinary shareholders. Thus, requiring the use of fair value accounting when determining the dividend distribution base can lead to unintended consequences and increase agency costs for minority shareholders.     

IMF治理机制基本框架的演变、困境与变革前景

作为二战后建立起来的最重要的国际金融组织,IMF在维护国际金融稳定方面发挥了重要作用。文章介绍了IMF治理机制的基本框架及演变,分析了其治理结构中存在的问题,如决策权更多地被欧美发达国家所主导,危机处理能力不足等,指出IMF应顺应国际经济金融格局的变化,不断完善机构自身治理,更好地反映发展中国家的权益,提升维护国际金融稳定的能力。     

Governance and control of sharing economy platforms: Hosting on Airbnb

Sharing economy platforms have recently surged as popular venues of business enabling people around the world to digitally interact and temporarily exchange their under-utilised assets. Beyond a very small number of exploratory studies of accounting practices underpinning these digital platform organisations, little is known about their governance and management control. This paper examines the governance and management control exercised by a digital platform owner over global users exhibited by Airbnb, a successful and pervasive sharing economy platform in the holiday accommodation sector. Through netnographic method, this study investigates the platform owner governance and control issues with respect to hosts. The analysis reveals the platform owner using predominantly formal bureaucratic control systems as mechanisms to govern and control its users. Through users’ compliance, they and their activities are made visible to the platform owner, which in turn maintains control over the value creation process. This study provides insights into how accounting systems are mobilised in digital platforms to facilitate their governance through mechanisms of surveillance, monitoring control over digital users worldwide, and how innovative and disruptive phenomena nonetheless rely on traditional technologies of governance to maintain power and control.