An important debate exists internationally as to how governments and public sector bodies should report their financial position and performance and the extent to which improved accounting is reflected in, or enables improved financial management. Macroeconomic accounting information using government financial statistics increasingly relies on microeconomic accounting. Good quality reporting systems for accounting at the micro level are demanded to assure debt and deficit data, these are increasingly important given the rejection of the 'risk-free' assumption for sovereign borrowing. These reporting systems take a number of forms including international accounting (IFRS); international public sector accounting (IPSAS) on an accrual or cash basis, and country-specific accounting frameworks. The conceptual underpinning of accounting systems such as IFRS and IPSAS are under revision and development. The adoption of accounting frameworks internationally varies: the UK, New Zealand and Australia have followed IFRS; several European countries follow IPSAS; developing countries may follow cash-based IPSAS; others, such as France, develop a country-specific approach.
Do these differing frameworks and how they are developing matter?
We welcome submissions that consider the implications and issues in international (public sector) accounting. Papers could consider:
- The role of accounting in analysing government investments or in assessing credit ratings
- Aligning government financial statistics and accounting frameworks
- Reporting financial performance and the sovereign debt crisis
- Financial reporting and the bankruptcies of governments and states
- Financial reporting and intergenerational equity
- Reporting on a business model and the wider public perspective
- The conflicts of a business model and public value
- The distinctiveness of public sector reporting
- Financial reporting, transparency and government manipulation
This call for papers encompasses empirical research and theoretical expositions.
Initial ideas for papers, new development articles or debate articles should be sent to email@example.com by 31st October 2014 for consideration by the editorial team.
Please refer to the Public Money & Management instructions for authors here.
- Edited by: Ian Ball
- Edited by: Sheila Ellwood
- Edited by: Ian Carruthers