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The Role of Management Accounting in Ancient India: Evidence from the Arthasastra

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  • Vijaya Murthy

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Jim Rooney

    (The University of Sydney)

Abstract

The various forms of accounting practice have a long history. However, the focus of historical accounting scholarship examining premodern times has tended to be the genesis of double-entry book-keeping techniques. In particular, very few scholars have examined influences on the adoption of management accounting techniques in the ancient periods of India’s long history. We respond to this lacuna by examining management accounting at an organizational level within an ancient and economically successful society, namely the Mauryan period (322–185 BC). The aim is to explore management accounting practices implicated in the enforcement of economic and ethical behavior in the daily lives of Mauryan organizational actors. Drawing on a translation of original records in the form of a collection of texts known as the Arthasastra (lit. the science of wealth), this paper explores the intended uses of management accounting and, in particular, controls to persuade organizational actors to adapt the values and norms of wealth generation within the boundaries of socially acceptable roles. Our contribution is to highlight the society-oriented role of management accounting within Mauryan organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Vijaya Murthy & Jim Rooney, 2018. "The Role of Management Accounting in Ancient India: Evidence from the Arthasastra," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 323-341, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:152:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3271-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3271-y
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    2. Ojha, Abhoy K. & Tarakad Venkateswaran, Ramya, 2022. "Understanding the colonial roots of Indian management thought: An agenda to decolonise and theorise for Indian contexts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 700-712.
    3. Arindam Das & Dimple Grover, 2022. "Ethical climates in South Asian Organizations: empirical findings from India," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(6), pages 1-26, June.

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