Accrual accounting does not necessarily mean accrual accounting: Factors that counteract compliance with accounting standards in Swedish municipal accounting

The regulation of Swedish municipal accounting has undergone fundamental changes over recent decades. Municipal accounting became regulated by law the 1st of January, 1998 after having been merely voluntarily regulated in the past. In accordance with the legislation, a standard-setting body was formed, with responsibility for development and interpretation of generally accepted accounting principles for municipal accounting. Important aims of the legislation and reform were to suppress ‘creative’ accounting and to increase the level of harmonization and comparability. Using the lens of positive accounting theory as well as institutional theory, this paper describes and explains the impact of the legislation and standard setting in the Swedish municipal sector. We have used a triangulation approach, collecting data through a survey, documentary study and interviews. The overall results show that the reform has had a very limited impact on accounting practice. Compliance with accounting standards was in general poor. This result is in line with the assumptions of positive accounting theory. However, the study also shows that there are differences among the preparers which can be explained by institutional theory. Large municipalities produce better accounting information (i.e. more in line with generally accepted accounting principles) than the municipalities in general. Weak audit quality seems to be another important factor that explains the poor compliance with accounting standards.     

管理会计的射程与边界

管理会计的射程与边界即管理会计学科研究的范围。射程问题是由管理会计功能引发的发展问题。边界问题主要是由学科之间的关系引发的联系问题,可从横向和纵向两个角度考察。横向边界研究涉及管理会计学与会计学内部各学科及其与管理学、经济学之间的关系。纵向边界研究包含管理会计学科理论层面的扩展,以及基于供应链的管理会计发展。本文指出：随着管理会计工具的不断创新与整合,管理会计的发展已经进入了“价值创造的管理会计”阶段,具有“经济计算和信号传递”以及“生产、技术导向和组织结构”两种系列功能。应该通过研究管理会计学科的内外部关系,来有效规范和控制管理会计的边界,同时要针对经营控制逆反性,寻求平衡与发展。     

New opportunities for farm accounting

This paper starts out to observe that there is a gap between the importance given to accounting and the low level of bookkeeping and accounting practice in the agricultural sector. Reasons for this gap are that current general accounting rules do not adapt very well to the particularities of farming and are difficult and expensive to implement. We then suggest that the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) and the recently issued International Accounting Standard on Agriculture (IAS 41) could be key elements to improve the use of accounting in European farms. We review the main contributions of IAS 41 and conclude that it provides a strong conceptual framework but might need further instruments for its implementation in practice, given the limitations of the agricultural sector. We continue to explain that FADN is an experienced network that has elaborated very detailed farm accounting procedures, and suggest that these procedures could be turned into a guide for implementing IAS 41. We report empirical data which indicate that current FADN reports are already considered useful by farmers for different purposes. Finally, we analyse in detail the compatibility of IAS 41 and FADN, identifying changes in the FADN procedures that would become necessary if the FADN procedures were to be used for implementing IAS 41 and some aspects of FADN that might have been worthwhile to consider for the final version of IAS 41.     

环境管理会计理论与实务问题分析

环境管理会计作为管理会计创新的组成部分,其理论研究和实务在过去十年里得到迅速发展．本文对国际上解决常规管理会计中有关问题的EMA理论研究和实务现状进行了分析,回顾了国际上有关行业的EMA 案例,分析了其存在问题,探讨了环境管理会计在投资评估、成本计算以及绩效管理等方面的进一步工作．     

会计手工实训与电算化实训结合的教学设计及实施

本文阐述了会计手工实训与电算化实训的差异，提出两者结合教学需要注意的关键点和具体实施措施，对会计实训教学中手工与电算化实训的有效融合进行重新设计与改革，对具体实施内容和步骤进行重新规划、探讨与研究。     

债务重组的会计问题研究

本文根据新会计制度的规定,就债务重组的基本原理五种债务重组方式的会计处理事项分别作了说明,并对中外关于债务重组的处理方法进行了比较,找出了其中的差异。为了寻找更为完善的对债务重组的会计处理方法,本文对新会计制度关于债务重组的某些不足之处进行了讨论,提出了相应的意见和建议。     

Maintaining economic stability as a motive for statutory accounting requirements

The impact of selected accounting rules on economic stability is analysed. Maintaining economic stability is claimed to be an important motive for regulatory intervention. In the first part of the paper, a framework for analysing the usefulness of such stabilizing intervention is proposed. There are differences between countries relating to the kind of economic relationship regulators are focusing on. To what extent should standard setting activities attempt to stabilize relationships between debtors and creditors rather than between capital market players? Should the determination of distributable profits or investor information be the predominating tool of policy making? In relation to these issues several common accounting rules are examined for their contribution to economic stability.     

浅析会计电算化工作中出现的问题及对策

会计电算化对我国企业的发展起到了极大的推动作用,但是随着会计电算化的飞速发展,实践工作中也出现了一些新的问题,阻碍了会计电算化向更深层次的发展,文章针对这些问题进行了阐述并提出相应的对策。     

浅谈我国财务会计概念框架的构建

财务会计概念框架对会计准则的制定有着重要的指导性作用。文章通过对新会计准则的基本准则进行了分析,就如何构建我国的财务会计概念框架作了探讨。在会计国际化的今天,尽快建立我国的财务会计概念框架已是大势所趋。为了适应客观经济环境的发展变化,会计理论界的专家和学者极力呼吁应构建一个既符合我国国情又与国际财务会计趋同的中国财务会计概念框架。     

论会计国际化进程中的会计目标

本文对会计目标是会计信息系统的内核进行了逻辑分析,指出会计目标是会计环境与会计信息系统的联结点,并对会计目标的两种观点进行对比,认为“受托责任观”和“决策有用观”的发展遵循了历史的逻辑。针对会计国际化进程中各国会计目标的考察,结合我国会计环境对会计目标进行了定位,阐述了会计目标对会计准则制订的借鉴意义。     

会计信息系统发展趋势分析

会计具有社会性与技术性,因此社会、经济、信息技术都对会计的发展产生影响。会计的社会性决定了会计信息系统发展的方向,是向各利益相关者提供决策有用的信息。会计的技术性决定了会计信息系统发展的历程与发展趋势。本文提出,事项驱动的信息系统体系结构、物理与逻辑分离的思路,这两个管理信息系统的发展趋势,并不是会计信息系统的特有趋势。     

关于工业企业会计制度创新的思考

工业企业会计制度建设是一个长期的过程,需要通过建立完善会计制度实现对财务资源的有效管理,从而降低企业生产经营成本,提高企业经济效益。工业企业会计制度建立过程中需要对会计信息质量进行有效的分析,按照会计政策的具体要求建立科学合理的会计制度,通过会计制度创新实现资源的优化配置,提高工业企业的整体发展水平。     

The development of models of accounting information systems in Sweden

Traditionally, accounting has evolved as a technique. Practitioners and academics have striven to improve the technical features of accounting. Now, accounting is conceived increasingly as an organizational artefact which interacts with other organizational practices in shaping organizational reality. Taking a broad perspective of management control, this paper aims at contributing to our knowledge of accounting in this second sense and identifying some Swedish contributions to the tool-box of accounting. In reviewing the development of models of accounting information in Sweden mainly since World War II, different factors explaining the evolution of each model are identified. Analyses of these factors reveal that different groups of actors have been engaged in the development of different parts of the accounting information system (AIS). It is also noted that the introduction of models that are widely applied has delayed the emergence of new models better adapted to the current situation in business. Comparisons will be made with the development in some other countries.     

Across the great divide: a literature review of management accounting and operations management at the shop floor

Management accounting’s ability to provide relevant information in production environments has long been discussed in the fields of management accounting (MA) and operations management (OM). Researchers from each field play a major part not only in disseminating their research results, but also in channelling their perceptions of management accounting in production environments through journal publications. The thesis of this paper is that via an examination of the paradigms, theories, and methods in the fields of MA and OM our understanding of the prevailing assumptions about management accounting in production environments in the academic community can be enhanced. The review shows a divide between the fields where the field of OM is oriented towards problem-solving, and the field of MA is more theory oriented. The review points out that the understanding of practice is a divider between the fields, but it also suggests that incorporation of practicing production members into research is a promising path forward. The paper then concludes that OM problematizes management accounting in production environments as a starting point for their research agenda and that both fields portrayal of management accounting in production environments need to be nuanced. There is a need to challenge the research expectations and to accept unconventional research methods to enhance knowledge about management accounting in production environments.

     

Spatial accounting methods and the construction of spatial social accounting matrices

The paper examines modifications to Regional Accounts used to construct regional and interregional Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs). It is argued that as the size of the basic areal unit used in studies declines, more traditional accounting approaches are no longer satisfactory. A three-dimensional spatial approach (termed two-by-two-by-two) to the identification of fundamental dimensions (commodity and factor market; geographical; and social accounts) has been developed in contrast to the more traditional non-spatial approach (termed two-by-two). This involves a novel approach using the geographical concepts of place of production for production activities, place of residence for institutions, marketplace for commodities and marketplace for factors. The use of these concepts permits accounting balances to be calculated at the spatial level. The theoretical basis of the spatial regional accounting model is presented and an example of the construction of a Danish Interregional SAM (SAM-K) is examined. Particular attention is given to data requirements, showing that these are much more modest than generally assumed.     

公司治理结构与会计信息质量

会计信息的真实与否对于会计能否实现其目标,发挥其作用密切相关,其质量的高低不仅影响到公司的发展,还影响到公司内部不同的利益相关者,究其原因,最根本的是公司治理结构的不完善。本文即从公司治理结构的角度来分析会计信息质量问题,找出原因及相应的对策。     

渐进发展中的会计法治化研究

会计法治化的艰难历程，既是适应经济发展要求，探求会计与财务、财政、经济相互促进、协调发展的过程，也是逐步总结会计发展经验教训、认识会计规律、统一会计理念、确立会计规范的过程。在不断的探索和创新中，我国的会计立法走过了20多年的风雨历程，对于指导我国的会计事业的发展起到了重要的保障作用，但在诸多方面也存在着严重不足。本文将在回顾我国会计立法基本历程，反思当前立法缺陷的基础上，把握今后会计立法工作的基本走向。     

Silent accounting harmonisation: Towards the presentation of cash flow models in the local government and business fields in Norway

In most countries around the world there are differences in the systems of accounting in the business and non-business sectors. In recent years, however, the governments in some countries have started to apply the accrual-based accounting principles that are used in the business field. In Norway, however, another development can be noted. In the later 1980s business organisations and local governments both started independently to move towards a cash flow reporting system. It is thus suggested here that a silent accounting harmonisation process is taking place in Norway between business and local government. The purpose of the article is to describe and discuss this process, and the harmonised financial statements themselves. Suggestions for further research are also made.     

Environmental management accounting: roadblocks on the way to the green and pleasant land

Environmental management accounting (EMA) is concerned with the accounting information needs of managers in relation to corporate activities that affect the environment as well as environment‐related impacts on the corporation. It is an area of practice and research that has developed rapidly in the last ten years. This paper briefly considers some of the main conceptual and practical problems encountered in environmental management accounting and challenges and opportunities for the future. It concludes with a call for further case based research studies into investment appraisal, costing and performance management aspects of environmental management accounting. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

价值增值会计与管理的思考与探析

价值增值会计与管理是通过对企业的价值增值进行计量、核算与管理,以达到企业为追求最大价值、增值和最大经济效益服务的目的。不同空间、不同历史时期价值增值有不同的含义,其定义、核算和管理也有很大区别。本文认为,我国应借鉴西方国家增值表的方式,实施价值增值会计与管理。在有条件的上市公司逐步引进EVA经济增值会计与管理,试行未来增值会计。