Since 2008, the world has experienced an enormous decrease of wealth. By many measures the impact of the crisis was severe. The fall in GDP, the collapse of world trade, the rise in unemployment, and the credit slump reached bigger proportions than in any other crisis since World War II. Although the economic figures seem to improve in some countries, the crisis continues being a challenging issue and is said to be one of the most important problems governments face today. The crisis has put public finances under ever increasing pressure, and governments have responded through austerity measures such as new fiscal rules and budgeting procedures and cutbacks of public spending. Public Management in Times of Austerity seeks to explore the austerity policies adopted by European governments and their consequences to public management. It asks how governments have implemented new rules leading to more stringency in public budgeting and financial management, and how they have cut back public expenditure. These questions are examined comparatively through case studies in different parts of Europe, and variations across countries are discussed and explained. Throughout the volume, the consequences of the crisis and austerity policies for public management are discussed. What is the relationship between crisis and decision-making in the public sector, and how does austerity affect public-sector organisation? As the previous crisis in the 1970s resulted in a major reform movement, which was later referred to as New Public Management, Public Management in Times of Austerity look to understand whether the current crisis also leads to a wave of public management reform, and if so what is the content of this?

Philanthropic foundations are experiencing a crisis of professional identity. They attract considerable hopes due to an unusually high degree of independence and freedom of manoeuvre, which theoretically places them in a privileged position to find novel solutions to societies' most severe and intractable problems. However, the field is said to suffer from a pervasive lack of orientation as to how these aspirations can be realized. Compared to other professions, it can be said that there exists neither reliable knowledge nor established practices which might guide the strategy development and the daily practice of foundations. This void is frequently filled by changing fads which present easy to grasp recipes and often make bold promises of how foundations can change the world. Yet, none of them has ever met these expectations. Philanthropy in Practice shows how philanthropic organizations can effectively address this predicament. Drawing on the public philosophy of Pragmatism, it argues that, to be effective, they need to go for the solution of social problems of middle range. The book puts at center stage the crucial role of niches in terms of bounded, protected and stable social spaces which are rich in resources. They render possible the experiments required to develop effective interventions and facilitate the retention of novel solutions to social problems. The model builds upon, and is illustrated by four in-depth case studies from the UK, Germany and Switzerland. With its sharp analytical eye and substantial evidence, Philanthropy in Practice will reshape the way we think about the questions of what impact philanthropy can reasonably hope to achieve, and by which means.

Accountancy as presently practised is tied to the paradigm of modern financial capitalism with its reliance on market solutions and the maximization of the firm's profits, which are the fundamental causes of most these problems. The Social Function of Accounts argues that accountancy, as currently organized and practised, is failing society, both in Britain and in the world as a whole. Examining the current problems afflicting the world: financial crises and instability, global warming, degradation of the environment, growing inequality, this book asks the question - what contribution does accountancy make to the solution of these problems? The book argues that the accountancy profession does not serve the public interest, notwithstanding its claim to this effect. The Social Function of Accounts argues that the moral responsibility of the accountant is analysed with reference to the principal theories of ethics continuing that the individual accountant has a moral responsibility to consider the impact of his actions on other people and on society as a whole. This responsibility is then analysed in a series of chapters dealing with four specific aspects of the matter: Distributive Justice, Sustainability, Financial reporting & the Accountancy Profession. Concluding with a call for the accountancy profession to adopt a new ethic of service to the public The Social Function of Accounts redraws the boundaries of current accounting literature and will be vital reading for academics, researchers and policy makers in accounting and related disciplines.

Managerial cost accounting is the financial and managerial tool that is used to estimate the organizational cost of products and services in business and government. In recent decades, cost accounting in the United States and other advanced industrial countries has been dominated by discussions of Activity Based Costing or ABC. While ABC can be shown to produce a more accurate estimate of cost than older and more basic types of cost accounting, ABC is not used extensively in many governments. We argue that this recent focus on ABC has stifled examination and discussion of how government cost accounting is being used and how it could be used in practice. The study of cost accounting practice reveals an important and underexplored area of financial management in government. Given the scandals that cost accounting estimates can create and that different types of cost accounting can create different estimates of cost it may be reasonable to ask whether the cost accounting exercise is worth it? Cost Accounting in Government: Theory and Applications addresses these unusual and unusually important topics through a series of studies of different government cost accounting practices. The first section of the book presents two chapters on the history and basic elements of cost accounting. The second section of the book provides further discussion and case studies of actual cost accounting practices in the main areas that cost accounting has been used in government: benchmarking the performance of government services, rate setting, grant overhead cost recovery, and cost management. The last two chapters discuss cost accounting practices in Europe and the future of cost accounting. These cases span local and federal governments and provide a much needed context to the study of cost accounting in government. Aimed at academics, researchers and policy makers in the fields of Accounting, Public Administration, and Government Studies, Cost Accounting in Government: Theory and Applications seeks to address the practical and theoretical gap in government cost accounting research with case studies of different public agencies that are using cost accounting for different purposes. The case studies illustrate that different purposes for cost accounting create unique and interesting cost accounting practices. The case studies provide useful examples of actual cost accounting systems that can inform both research and instruction

China's economy, which continues to grow rapidly, is having an ever greater impact on the rest of the world. This impact is likely to be felt increasingly in the financial sector where China's foreign currency reserves, fuelled by the huge trade surplus, are a very significant factor in world financial markets. This book, based on extensive original research by a range of leading experts, examines many key aspects of current reforms in China's financial sector and China's increasing integration into the international economy. Subjects covered amongst many others include: the derivatives market in China; stock market liberalisation; the internationalization of accounting standards in China; the impact of international foreign direct investment by Chinese firms; and a discussion of the likely long-term economic effects of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Especially since the 2003 SARS crisis, China's healthcare system has become a growing source of concern, both for citizens and the Chinese government. China's once praised public health services have deteriorated into a system driven by economic constraints, in which poor people often fail to get access, and middle-income households risk to be dragged into poverty by the rising costs of care. The New Rural Co-operative Medical System (NRCMS) was introduced to counter these tendencies and constitutes the main system of public health insurance in China today. This book outlines the nature of the system, traces the processes of its enactment and implementation, and discusses its strengths and weaknesses. It argues that the contested nature of the fields of health policy and social security has long been overlooked, and reinterprets the NRCMS as a compromise between opposing political interests. Furthermore, it argues that structural institutional misfits facilitate fiscal imbalances and a culture of non-compliance in local health policy, which distort the outcomes of the implementation and limit the effectiveness of insurance. These dynamics also raise fundamental questions regarding the effectiveness of other areas of the comprehensive New Health Reform, which China has initiated to overhaul its healthcare system.

As the world's third-ranking economic power, Japan's style of management, such as the lifetime employment system, the seniority system, and an enterprise union, has been well studied. However, little else is known about the Japanese management control systems (MCSs) and management accounting systems, which are significantly different from other economic powers. This book sheds light on Japanese MCSs and the differences with those of the United States, illustrated with examples from Mitsubishi Electric, Kao, and more. This book aids not only researchers in management accounting, but also provides more useful insight for international investors and management accountants that can prove useful in business management.

This book explores new topics in modern research on empirical corporate finance and applied accounting, especially the econometric analysis of microdata. Dubbed "financial microeconometrics" by the author, this concept unites both methodological and applied approaches. The book examines how quantitative methods can be applied in corporate finance and accounting research in order to predict companies getting into financial distress. Presented in a clear and straightforward manner, it also suggests methods for linking corporate governance to financial performance, and discusses what the determinants of accounting disclosures are. Exploring these questions by way of numerous practical examples, this book is intended for researchers, practitioners and students who are not yet familiar with the variety of approaches available for data analysis and microeconometrics. "This book on financial microeconometrics is an excellent starting point for research in corporate finance and accounting. In my view, the text is positioned between a narrative and a scientific treatise. It is based on a vast amount of literature but is not overloaded with formulae. My appreciation of financial microeconometrics has very much increased. The book is well organized and properly written. I enjoyed reading it." Wolfgang Marty, Senior Investment Strategist, AgaNola AG

Accounting for Financial Instruments is about the accounting and regulatory framework associated with the acquisition and disposal of financial instruments; how to determine their value; how to manage the risk connected with them; and ultimately compile a business valuation report. Specifically, the book covers the following topics, amongst others: Accounting for Investments; Bills of exchange; Management of Financial Risks; Financial Analysis (including the Financial Analysis Report); Valuation of a business (including the Business Valuation Report) and Money laundering. Accounting for Financial Instruments fills a gap in the current literature for a comprehensive text that brings together relevant accounting concepts and valid regulatory framework, and related procedures regarding the management of financial instruments (investments), which are applicable in the modern business world. Understanding financial risk management allows the reader to comprehend the importance of analysing a business concern. This is achieved by presenting an analytical framework to illustrate that an entity's performance is greatly influenced by its external and internal environments. The analysis of the external environment examines factors that impact an entity's operational activities, strategic choices, and influence its opportunities and risks. The analysis of the internal environment applies accounting ratio analysis to an entity's financial statements to examine various elements, including liquidity, profitability, asset utilisation, investment, working capital management and capital structure. The objective of the book is to provide a fundamental knowledge base for those who are interested in managing financial instruments (investments) or studying banking and finance or those who wish to make financial services, particularly banking and finance, their chosen career. Accounting for Financial Instruments is highly applicable to both professional accountants and auditors and students alike.

It is widely accepted that natural resource wealth, especially in the form of oil and minerals, can be a key factor in inhibiting economic development. Many of the countries that are richest in natural resources - including oil, metals and diamonds - are amongst the world's poorest. Why? Fiscal Policy and the Natural Resources Curse re-examines this ancient, unsolved puzzle, asking why many governments of natural resource-intensive countries are incapable, in a globalised world, of dealing with the natural-resource curse. This book offers a detailed analysis of the power-relationships which underpin the natural resource curse, using both statistical analysis and country case studies from Africa and Latin America to pinpoint the strategies that have enable developing countries to break out of the poverty trap. The book differs from other works on this subject, as it not only identifies the issues at stake but also offers solutions in the form of a series of suggested policy measures. The work focusses in particular on fiscal escape routes, namely measures to develop and diversify the tax system, and to reallocate and target public expenditure. This volume will be of great interest to scholars of economic development, the economics of natural resources and economic growth as well as all those with an interest in development, global politics and anti-poverty policies.

All business organizations produce financial statements, and the information communicated (or hidden) in these is relevant to a wide range of users. After a number of recent financial scandals from banks to supermarkets, the need to fully understand financial statements has never been so imperative, and the topic itself so pertinent. With updated examples to reflect the current business environment, including new material on the ethical considerations, and a wider array of business examples, from retail to services and banks, O'Hare continues to demist financial statements for non-specialists. In this new and refreshed edition, he once again covers the topic in an accessible way and assumes no prior training or study in accounting. Offering a range of extra resources, including end of chapter questions, topics for further discussion and brimming with real-world examples, this concise new edition provides a comprehensive resource that will be welcomed by lecturers and instructors charged with delivering classes on financial statements.

Is society possible without accounting? In speech or in writing, we communicate actions, plans and decisions using numbers, calculations, words and images. Although accounting research is dominated by quantitative analyses, the role of accounting in society is firmly established over thousands of years. In this concise book, Lisa Jack demonstrates the power of social theory in expanding the value of accounting research. Accounting and Social Theory: An introduction includes advice on research problems as well as guidance on fertile areas for new research. The tools, techniques and developments covered by the author help readers to see social research in accounting as the study of the use, misuse and abuse of accounting communications by people and the effects that this has on social relationships. Stories of accounting in war, agriculture and food, gender, health and other areas illustrate the ways in which the threads of accounting run through society. Having emerged from the author's wealth of teaching experience, this book provides a student-focused treasure trove that illuminates the field for early-career researchers in accounting and established academics looking to expand the impact of their work.

The book is designed to provide a conceptual framework for management accounting. The student as well as the practitioner in management accounting should be aware not only of the new multidisciplinary scope of the field but also of the conceptual foundations which justify this extended scope. Unlike most management accounting books which do not introduce or integrate all these foundations and are generally restricted to an exposition of cost accounting techniques, this book both asserts that the management accounting professional needs a grounding in various disciplines and justifies the adaptation of their techniques to managerial problem solving.

Five conceptual foundations envisioned for management accounting are presented: accounting foundations, decisional foundations, organizational foundations, behavioral foundations, and strategic foundations. A recurrent theme in each of these chapters is that a failure to grasp any of these conceptual foundations of management accounting may result in deficiencies in the management accounting system and inadequacies in the provision of the diverse services required by both the small and the complex organizations of today.

Fact: Barings was an excellent company, with professional managers. Their careers were devastated by fraud. How many other managers are now in the same position without knowing it? Fact: The average company loses between 2 per cent and 5 per cent of its turnover as a result of dishonesty. When Mike Comer's book first appeared it quickly established itself worldwide as the standard work in its field. This third edition is a radical revision reflecting the world of EDI, electronic commerce, derivatives, computerization, empowerment, downsizing and other recent developments. Ironically, many of these have exposed companies to an alarming range of new risks. With the help of real-life case histories the author identifies the main types of fraud, the circumstances in which they occur and the telltale signs that give them away. He examines internal control systems and the attitudes and practices that allow fraud to flourish. He explains in detail how fraud can be prevented and detected, and shows why it is that many fashionable management techniques can also potentially pave the way to corporate disaster.

A textbook that provides a coherent description of valuation models over a wide range of securities. Students can study both the theories and the practical implementations of the valuation models. Further, students can use the extensive Excel models applying to practical problems ( the cases) and exercises. The book is the only textbook that is supported by a complete set of excel models enabling students to use the models in 'real life' cases. This book combines the theories and case studies in one coherent treatment for the courses in securities valuation.

Bank Regulation: Effects on Strategy, Financial Accounting and Management Control discusses and problematizes how regulation is affecting bank strategies as well as their financial accounting and management control systems. Following a period of bank de-regulation, the new millennium brought a drastic change, with many new regulations. Some of these are the result of the financial crisis of 2008-2009. Other regulations, such as the introduction in 2005 of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for quoted companies in the EU, can be related to the introduction of a new global accounting regime. It is evident from annual reports of banks that the number of new regulations in recent years is high and that they cover many different functional areas. The objectives of these regulations are also ambitious; to improve governance and control, contributing to a high level of financial stability for banks. These objectives are obviously of great concern for an industry that directly and indirectly affects the financial situation not only of individuals and organizations but also nation states. Considering the importance of banks in society, it is of little surprise that the attention of both scholars and practitioners has been directed towards how banks comply with new regulations and if the intended objectives of the regulations are met. This book will be of great value to all those interested in financial stability matters (practitioners, policy-makers, students, academics), as well as to accounting and finance scholars.

Businesses are complex, and, as a result, teachers face a difficult task developing students' understanding of how they work, especially in the global context. Accounting for Business Studies helps teachers focus on modern commercial issues and integrates accounting into business and management studies. This book includes: * A business perspective rather than an accounting perspective * e-business, including case studies * Globalisation, including case studies * Business skills, like interpretation, analysis and communication * IT integrated into specific business situations * Includes models such as Porter's Five Forces, Supply Chain, Product Life Cycle

The techniques and methods of project appraisal in developing countries have been considerably expanded and refined since they were first introduced in the late 1960s. This up-to-date and authoritative survey volume demonstrates the ways in which cost-benefit analysis has developed in response to changes in economic circumstances and conditions over the past three decades.An international group of academic and professional economists covers areas including problems in the practical application of cost-benefit techniques by international agencies, the treatment of income distribution, discounting, the effects method, the logical framework as a complement to project appraisal, aid tying, risk criteria in decision making, benefit valuation in the water sector, the appraisal of technical assistance projects, privatization in transition economies and shadow pricing in transition economies. Professor Kirkpatrick and Professor Weiss have prepared an insightful overview essay introducing the broad selection of work presented in this volume. Cost-Benefit Analysis and Project Appraisal in Developing Countries will be welcomed by academic and professional economists working on project appraisal in the context of the economic problems of developing and transitional economies.

Based on a study covering a one-year financial reporting cycle at a commercial subsidiary of a well-known scientific research organization, Inside Accounting examines how accountants and non-accounting managers construct their company's earnings. Addressing issues in both internal management accounting, such as budgeting, performance evaluation, and control, as well as external financial accounting, such as book keeping, monthly/year end accounts and auditing, David Leung focuses on how people classify transactions, make professional judgments and use computer software for accounting, and prepare for and facilitate the auditing process. He also looks at accountancy training and the impact of people's affiliations to the accounting profession or other professions on their accounting and on their perceptions of financial statements. Other contingent or contextual factors that influence the choice of accounting method, such as time pressure, reward structures, management authority and institutions are also considered. David Leung's research employs an innovative blend of theory and practice that redresses the imbalance between ethnographic studies of financial accounting, and management accounting and helps close the gap between the academic curriculum and the experiences of practitioners. His research leads the author to conclude that no act of accounting classification is ever indefeasibly correct; that the accounting community's institutions and authority are central to the accounting process and to the 'truth and fairness' of accounting numbers; that accounting training involves extensive use of learning by doing; and that both accountants and non-accounting managers have goals and interests that often result in no better than 'good enough' accounting. This book will appeal to accounting and finance professionals and academics in finance, as well as to sociologists and academic researchers interested in research methods and science studies.

It is clear that value added methods provide relevant, useful information for financial analysis, market valuation, and financial decision making in corporate settings. Value added methods can be used in ratio analysis, in the determination of earnings as an earnings management tools, and can be substituted for earnings in equity valuation. When included in a wealth measurement it can vastly improve the quality of decision making. Riahi-Belkaoui covers these topics and more. His book is a probing, essential examination of what the latest value added methods are and what they can do, not only for accounting professionals but for academics and top corporate management as well.

Value added reporting is popular in most European countries and in New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. Most emerging countries are using it too, or considering it. Riahi-Belkaoui explicates latest developments in value-added practice and research, first covering the meaning of the concept, the history behind value added's development and its implied advantages and disadvantages. He then covers the derivation of a value added report, using a fictional case and the resulting data, before moving to an overview of the empirical literature most concerned with value added in the United States. Documenting the overall behavior of the net value added earnings policy model, he lays the foundation for more contextually specific approaches and investigates the usefulness of the substitution of net-value added in equity valuation. The book concludes with an examination of whether accounting knowledge is associated with a decision maker's tendency to ignore value added in wealth measurement in favor of the profit concept. Riahi-Belkaoui draws heavily on his own important writings, to further illustrate and explain the methods and benefits of value added approaches in accounting and other forms of financial decision making.

This book analyzes the relationship between integrated reporting and audit quality within the European context, presenting empirical evidence and drawing on a broad review of the available literature in order to evaluate the ability of integrated reporting to enhance audit risk assessment. Dedicated sections first elucidate the concepts of integrated reporting and audit quality. The main integrated reporting frameworks are compared, the role of integrated reporting within a firm's disclosure is examined, and all aspects of audit risk are discussed. The key question of the impacts of integrated reporting on the components of audit risk is then addressed in detail, with reference to empirical findings, their practical implications, and their limitations. The concluding section explores the future of corporate reporting and the development of the next integrated reporting framework and summarizes the insights that the analysis in the book offers into the relationship between integrated reporting and audit quality in the European setting.

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First Published in 2004. The subject of this text is modern accountancy, which is to be considered from a sociological perspective. The logical starting point is to map out the chosen subject, modern accountancy, before saying something about the particular disciplinary perspective, sociology, from which it is to be viewed. The volume is split into two parts the sociology of accountancy and Sociology for accounting.

Although citizen engagement is a core public service value, few public administrators receive training on how to share leadership with people outside the government. Participatory Budgeting in the United States serves as a primer for those looking to understand a classic example of participatory governance, engaging local citizens in examining budgetary constraints and priorities before making recommendations to local government. Utilizing case studies and an original set of interviews with community members, elected officials, and city employees, this book provides a rare window onto the participatory budgeting process through the words and experiences of the very individuals involved. The central themes that emerge from these fascinating and detailed cases focus on three core areas: creating the participatory budgeting infrastructure; increasing citizen participation in participatory budgeting; and assessing and increasing the impact of participatory budgeting. This book provides students, local government elected officials, practitioners, and citizens with a comprehensive understanding of participatory budgeting and straightforward guidelines to enhance the process of civic engagement and democratic values in local communities.