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Efficient contracting and accounting

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  • David Emanuel
  • Jilnaught Wong
  • Norman Wong

Abstract

This paper examines the role of accounting in an efficient contracting perspective of the firm. The firm is an alternative to the market when the costs of using the market become excessive. When a firm replaces the market, authority substitutes for the price mechanism in determining how decisions are made. This paper examines accounting's role in controlling the firm to ensure resources are put to their highest‐value use. Accounting, together with employment contracts, compensation arrangements, debt contracts, internal and external auditors, and the board of directors including its audit and compensation committees comprise a package of mechanisms that have evolved to govern the firm. These institutional devices become the firm's efficient contracting technology. As accounting is part of that contracting technology, the accounting controls and systems that evolve and get implemented are efficient and the accounting methods that are used in calculating the numbers that form part of the firm's contractual arrangements are, likewise, efficient.

Suggested Citation

  • David Emanuel & Jilnaught Wong & Norman Wong, 2003. "Efficient contracting and accounting," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 43(2), pages 149-166, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:43:y:2003:i:2:p:149-166
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-629X.00086
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    Cited by:

    1. Richardson, Alan J. & Kilfoyle, Eksa, 2009. "Accounting in markets, hierarchies and networks: The role of accounting in the transnational governance of postal transactions," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 939-956, November.
    2. David Hillier & Beatriz Martínez & Pankaj C. Patel & Julio Pindado & Ignacio Requejo, 2018. "Pound of Flesh? Debt Contract Strictness and Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 42(2), pages 259-282, March.
    3. Ines Kahloul & Jocelyn Grira & Khawla Hlel, 2023. "The trilogy of economic policy uncertainty, earnings management and firm performance: empirical evidence from France," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 47(1), pages 184-206, March.
    4. Al-Hadi, Ahmed & Taylor, Grantley & Al-Yahyaee, Khamis Hamed, 2016. "Ruling Family Political Connections and Risk Reporting: Evidence from the GCC," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 504-524.
    5. Haroon ur Rashid Khan & Waqas Bin Khidmat & Osama Al Hares & Naeem Muhammad & Kashif Saleem, 2020. "Corporate Governance Quality, Ownership Structure, Agency Costs and Firm Performance. Evidence from an Emerging Economy," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-35, July.
    6. Grantley Taylor & Greg Tower & John Neilson, 2010. "Corporate communication of financial risk," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(2), pages 417-446, June.

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