Public and Private Sector Accounting ‐ The Non‐identical Twins

Barton, Allan

doi:10.1111/j.1835-2561.1999.tb00105.x

Cited by 105 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…Governmental organizations such as local and central government entities use common and public resources to provide public goods and services to citizen users (Puddu, 2001). The existence of externalities and market failure form the basis for government provision of goods and services (Barton, 1999). The move to accounting on an accrual basis in the public sector began in the late 1980s and early 1990s.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Popular Financial Reporting: Focus on Stakeholders—The first European Experience

Biancone¹,

Secinaro²,

Brescia³

2016

IJBM

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The aim of the article is to analyze the role of the Popular Financial Reporting as tool of transparency and accountability. Our analysis examines the case of "Popular Financial Reporting of the City of Turin": bya questionnaire of analysis of the stakeholder satisfaction the study consider the different social variables because they influence the content and the comprehension. The method is based on data analysis reporting frequencies and percentages of answers of the questionnaire and, when possible, evaluating these results according to the level of instruction. The Chi-Square test was used to identify statistically significant differences among categories of educational level. Globally, the feedbacks were positive and the document could be defined as an important and strategic way to keep aware the stakeholders about the policies of the City. However, some improvement could be made, especially considering the differences observed among the educational level categories.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Popular Financial Reporting: Focus on Stakeholders—The first European Experience

Biancone¹,

Secinaro²,

Brescia³

2016

IJBM

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“…Market-focused principles of management reoriented the primary function of public sector organisations towards the achievement of defined service outputs, economic outcomes and commercial practices, rather than traditional social goals. (Kelsey, 1995;Easton, 1997;Barton, 1999aBarton, , 2000Boston, et al, 1996;Broadbent & Guthrie, 1992;Carnegie & Wolnizer, 1999). Among the range of major shifts in focus imposed on NFP PBEs, tertiary educational institutions were reoriented as service providers of private education benefits to fee-paying students, required to be responsive to market demand and to generate an alternative income to supplement their reduced government funding (Kelsey, 1995, p4).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accounting for Heritage, Cultural and Community Assets – Alternative Metrics from a New Zealand Māori Educational Institution

Wild¹

2013

AABFJ

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In the 1980s, with the rise to dominance of governments with neoliberal economic and social agendas, the public sector in major western countries underwent a process of fundamental reforms. A key aspect of the change imposed was the implementation of a market-oriented, cost-efficiency focus towards the management of public sector organisations, described collectively as the New Public Management (NPM) model (Kelsey, 1995;Boston et al, 1996; Easton 1996;Barton, 2002Barton, , 2005aBarton, , 2005bCarnegie & West, 2005;Ball & Grubnic, 2008;Davis, 2010). This reform process included the imposition of regulatory measures requiring public sector organisations to provide annual financial reports prepared on an accounting basis comparable to those for the private sector, and incorporated an obligation to disclose (at economic values) all assets held. For public benefit entities holding heritage, cultural and community assets (HCA), this reporting requirement has been particularly problematic, entailing substantive changes to public accounting policy. This paper critiques the political ideologies and practices of the NPM model, and challenges its assumptions that private sector financial reporting requirements, based on international accounting standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP), are appropriate for universal application to public benefit and other not-for-profit entities holding HCA. In particular, the paper argues against the NPM assumption that reporting all HCA in economic terms improves accountability in public benefit entities. Instead, the paper proposes an alternative reporting model based on a set of cultural rather than economic values for reporting HCA. It suggests as an exemplar the 'Wellbeing of Communities' reporting and accountability framework devised for application by an indigenous New Zealand Māori educational institution, Te Wānanga-o-Raukawa. AbstractIn the 1980s, with the rise to dominance of governments with neoliberal economic and social agendas, the public sector in major western countries underwent a process of fundamental reforms. A key aspect of the change imposed was the implementation of a market-oriented, cost-efficiency focus towards the management of public sector organisations, described collectively as the New Public Management (NPM) model

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“…There are also supporters of this approach that argue that accrual accounting is able to provide information about the financial performance or position, in terms of public resources, that cash-based accounting is not able to (Rowles, 2004) or a more accurate picture of the cost of services (Guthrie, 1998). Smullen (2009) identified three positions of opinion about this issue, when the first group consists of supporters (Das 2008;Micallef and Pierson 1997;Mellor 1996) and the two other groups are represented by opponents (Barton 1999;Newberry 2001;Monsen 2002) -while one criticizes its usefulness and applicability to the public sector, the other rejects the way of its application in the public sector. While supporters argue that accrual accounting is important to create a complete picture of certain governmental financial positions, due to the ability for total and unit cost calculation and consolidation (Das 2008;Smullen 2009), opponents argue, for example, that the inappropriateness of this type of accounting is due to the inapplicability of many financial relationships to the public sector conditions and the different nature of the goods produced in the public sector (Stiglitz 1988;Barton 1999;Smullen 2009).…”

Section: State Of Art -From Cash To Accrual Accounting System?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Smullen (2009) identified three positions of opinion about this issue, when the first group consists of supporters (Das 2008;Micallef and Pierson 1997;Mellor 1996) and the two other groups are represented by opponents (Barton 1999;Newberry 2001;Monsen 2002) -while one criticizes its usefulness and applicability to the public sector, the other rejects the way of its application in the public sector. While supporters argue that accrual accounting is important to create a complete picture of certain governmental financial positions, due to the ability for total and unit cost calculation and consolidation (Das 2008;Smullen 2009), opponents argue, for example, that the inappropriateness of this type of accounting is due to the inapplicability of many financial relationships to the public sector conditions and the different nature of the goods produced in the public sector (Stiglitz 1988;Barton 1999;Smullen 2009). Certain opinions argue that the inapplicability of accrual accounting is due to the limited and restricted use of assets and liabilities, but there is a certain difference in the levels and forms of government as local governments are in full possession and because of the autonomy of their assets, and they are able and also responsible to manage them according to Act No.…”

Section: State Of Art -From Cash To Accrual Accounting System?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Sector Accounting Policy Reform in the Czech Republic: Experience from Local Governments (pilot)

Hrůza¹,

Valouch²

2016

EFAJ

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Abstract:The Czech Republic has recently introduced and implemented public sector accounting reform. The aim of the reform was to make the Czech public finance system more transparent, efficient and realistic. The authors of this reform, in fact, intended to bring public sector accounting and public financial management closer to private sector practices that, from their point of view, fulfil the reform goals previously mentioned. After a few years of functioning in this new accounting environment, certain associated points and problems have arisen that have to be tackled. The aim of this paper is to describe public sector accounting reform and its post-implementation process to current state in the Czech Republic based on pilot empirical research mirroring the opinions and experience of municipal Chief Financial Officers and its comparison with similar examples from other countries. The pilot sample for this research consists of municipal Chief Financial Officers and the research method is based on questionnaires and interviews with them. Results and findings achieved by this pilot research show that the reform of the new public sector accounting system in the Czech Republic has been developed in very extended scope in comparison with other countries, estimated costs perceived by users (local governments) are prevailing over advantages and benefits and thus there was identified certain degree of scepticism which may disrupt further efficient and positive use of this new accounting system.

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Public and Private Sector Accounting ‐ The Non‐identical Twins

Cited by 105 publications

References 12 publications

The Popular Financial Reporting: Focus on Stakeholders—The first European Experience

The Popular Financial Reporting: Focus on Stakeholders—The first European Experience

Accounting for Heritage, Cultural and Community Assets – Alternative Metrics from a New Zealand Māori Educational Institution

Public Sector Accounting Policy Reform in the Czech Republic: Experience from Local Governments (pilot)

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