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Contextualizing politicians’ uses of accounting information: reassurance and ammunition

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  • Davide Giacomini
  • Mariafrancesca Sicilia
  • Ileana Steccolini

Abstract

This paper explores the use of accounting information by local government politicians. The authors examined three very typical council decisions in both their policy formulation and decision-making stages, which had different levels of political conflict. During policy formulation, accounting information was used mostly to provide answers—improving understanding. At the decision-making stage, the level of conflict influenced the quantity of information used, as well as the way it was used. Under low political conflict, accounting information primarily provided reassurance, whereas when there were conflicts between majority and opposition politicians, accounting information was used to (de)legitimize political positions and decisions. This paper is one of the first to contextualize politicians’ use of accounting information and has important implications for practice and future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Giacomini & Mariafrancesca Sicilia & Ileana Steccolini, 2016. "Contextualizing politicians’ uses of accounting information: reassurance and ammunition," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(7), pages 483-490, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:pubmmg:v:36:y:2016:i:7:p:483-490
    DOI: 10.1080/09540962.2016.1237128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lasswell, Harold D., 1956. "The Political Science of Science: An Inquiry into the Possible Reconciliation of Mastery and Freedom," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(4), pages 961-979, December.
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    3. Burchell, Stuart & Clubb, Colin & Hopwood, Anthony & Hughes, John & Nahapiet, Janine, 1980. "The roles of accounting in organizations and society," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 5-27, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. van Helden, Jan & Caperchione, Eugenio & Pattaro, Anna Francesca, 2023. "Use and non-use of accounting information: The case of controversial projects in public and non-profit settings," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Susana Jorge & Sónia Nogueira & Maria Antónia Jesus, 2023. "Financial Information Use In Parliamentary Debates In A Changing Context," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1611-1638, December.
    3. Christian Nitzl & Dennis Hilgers & Bernhard Hirsch & David Lindermüller, 2020. "The Influence of the Organizational Structure, Environment, and Resource Provision on the Use of Accrual Accounting in Municipalities," Schmalenbach Business Review, Springer;Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft, vol. 72(2), pages 271-298, April.

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