IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/udf/wpaper/2019048.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Innovation in Public Sector Accounting: a New Role for Local Governments?

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Badia
  • Tiziana Landi
  • Valentina Montin

Abstract

The research aims to analyze how local governments can adopt accounting innovations to reinvent their role. This report attempts to define the importance of reducing information asymmetry among citizens, policy-makers, and public managers, as well as how accounting system reform can support the process. This paper makes use of a case study based on the realization of a medium-sized Italian municipality’s consolidated financial statements, exploiting the action research method. The analysis outlines that, on one hand, the development of new accounting tools can enhance organizational awareness, while on the other hand, there are some possible limits regarding internal and external accountability.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Badia & Tiziana Landi & Valentina Montin, 2019. "Innovation in Public Sector Accounting: a New Role for Local Governments?," Working Papers 2019048, University of Ferrara, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:udf:wpaper:2019048
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://out.economia.unife.it/uploads/dip_deit/quaderni/2019048.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Caroline Aggestam Pontoppidan & Isabel Brusca, 2016. "The first steps towards harmonizing public sector accounting for European Union member states: strategies and perspectives," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 181-188, April.
    2. Sandy Q. Qu & John Dumay, 2011. "The qualitative research interview," Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 8(3), pages 238-264, August.
    3. Ezzamel, M. & Hyndman, N. & Johnsen, A. & Lapsley, I., 2014. "Reforming central government: An evaluation of an accounting innovation," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 409-422.
    4. Hyndman, Noel & Liguori, Mariannunziata & Meyer, Renate E. & Polzer, Tobias & Rota, Silvia & Seiwald, Johann, 2014. "The translation and sedimentation of accounting reforms. A comparison of the UK, Austrian and Italian experiences," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 388-408.
    5. Francesca Manes Rossi & Sandra Cohen & Eugenio Caperchione & Isabel Brusca, 2016. "Harmonizing public sector accounting in Europe: thinking out of the box," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 189-196, April.
    6. Tobias Jagalla & Peter Skaerbaek & Sebastian D. Becker, 2014. "The translation of accrual accounting and budgeting and the reconfiguration of public sector accountants' identities," Post-Print hal-01025960, HAL.
    7. James L. Chan, 2003. "Government Accounting: An Assessment of Theory, Purposes and Standards," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 13-20, January.
    8. Becker, Sebastian D. & Jagalla, Tobias & Skærbæk, Peter, 2014. "The translation of accrual accounting and budgeting and the reconfiguration of public sector accountants’ identities," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 324-338.
    9. Sinclair, Amanda, 1995. "The chameleon of accountability: Forms and discourses," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 20(2-3), pages 219-237.
    10. van Helden, Jan & Uddin, Shahzad, 2016. "Public sector management accounting in emerging economies: A literature review," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 34-62.
    11. Irvine Lapsley & Riccardo Mussari & Gert Paulsson, 2009. "On the Adoption of Accrual Accounting in the Public Sector: A Self-Evident and Problematic Reform," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 719-723.
    12. Pollitt, Christopher & Bouckaert, Geert, 2004. "Public Management Reform: A Comparative Analysis," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 2, number 9780199268498.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Grzegorz Bucior & Aleksandra Zurawik, 2022. "The Autonomy of Public Sector Units in the Process of Formulating Accounting Policy – Evidence from Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 555-581.
    2. Staci A. Kenno & Michelle C. Lau & Barbara J. Sainty, 2018. "In Search of a Theory of Budgeting: A Literature Review," Accounting Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), pages 507-553, December.
    3. Alessandro Lombrano, 2021. "Dall?armonizzazione alla standardizzazione contabile. Quale via per la riforma degli ordinamenti contabili europei," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(3), pages 7-31.
    4. Adhikari, Pawan & Kuruppu, Chamara & Matilal, Sumohon, 2013. "Dissemination and institutionalization of public sector accounting reforms in less developed countries: A comparative study of the Nepalese and Sri Lankan central governments," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 213-230.
    5. Elaine Stewart & Ciaran Connolly, 2021. "Recent UK Central Government Accounting Reforms: Claimed Benefits and Experienced Outcomes," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 57(3), pages 557-592, September.
    6. Bruns, Hans-Jürgen, 2014. "Accounting change and value creation in public services—Do relational archetypes make a difference in improving public service performance?," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 339-367.
    7. 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.
    8. Arwan Gunawan & Winwin Yadiati & Harry Suharman & K. Poppy Sofia, 2020. "Linkages to Budgetary Control and Budgetary Absorption Performance," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 304-316.
    9. Claudine Grisard, 2012. "Accountability and Bottom of the Pyramid projects: the two sides of the mirror," Post-Print hal-00690956, HAL.
    10. Hyndman, Noel & Liguori, Mariannunziata & Meyer, Renate E. & Polzer, Tobias & Rota, Silvia & Seiwald, Johann, 2014. "The translation and sedimentation of accounting reforms. A comparison of the UK, Austrian and Italian experiences," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 388-408.
    11. Raphael Zumofen, 2016. "Public accountability: a summary analysis [Accountability publique - Une analyse synthétique]," Post-Print hal-03623871, HAL.
    12. Mari Kobayashi & Kiyoshi Yamamoto & Keiko Ishikawa, 2016. "The Usefulness of Accrual Information in Non‐mandatory Environments: The Case of Japanese Local Government," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(2), pages 153-161, June.
    13. repec:dau:papers:123456789/9498 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Lucia Biondi & Enrico Bracci, 2018. "Sustainability, Popular and Integrated Reporting in the Public Sector: A Fad and Fashion Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, August.
    15. Vania Palmieri & Mario Turco, 2020. "Crisi e cambiamento delle istituzioni di contabilit? pubblica. Il caso delle amministrazioni centrali dello Stato," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2020(3), pages 87-112.
    16. J. Christiaens & C. Vanhee & F. Manes-Rossi & N. Aversano, 2013. "The Effect of IPSAS on Reforming Governmental Financial Reporting: an International Comparison," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 13/845, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    17. Maran, Laura & Bracci, Enrico & Inglis, Robert, 2018. "Performance management systems' stability: Unfolding the human factor – A case from the Italian public sector," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 324-339.
    18. Crepaz, Lukas & Huber, Christian & Scheytt, Tobias, 2016. "Governing arts through valuation: The role of the state as network actor in the European Capital of Culture 2010," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 35-50.
    19. Chandrasiri Abeysinghe & Dinushika Samanthi, 2016. "Accrual Basis and Political Interest in Public Sector Accounting. The Case of a Municipal Council in Sri Lanka," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 6(3), pages 58-68, July.
    20. Rajat Deb, 2018. "Financial Audit or Forensic Audit? Government Sector Panorama," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 11(2), pages 135-158, December.
    21. Gottlieb, Uliana & Johed, Gustav & Hansson, Helena, 2022. "Accounting and accountability for farm animals: Conceptual limits and the possibilities of caring," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Accounting innovations; Consolidated financial statements; Accountability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:udf:wpaper:2019048. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Alberto Benati (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/deferit.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.