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Harmonising European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS): Issues and Perspectives for Europe’s Economy and Society

Author

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  • Biondi Yuri

    (CNRS – ESCP Europe, 79, avenue de la Republique, Paris 75011, France)

Abstract

Accounting systems play a hidden but fundamental role as mode and instrument of representation, coordination and organisation for the public sector and its specific public action. Therefore, financial and accounting reforms transform, implement and reshape public policies as well as the working and very existence of public administration. Last March 2013, the European Commission started a relevant project with the intention to create harmonised “European Public Sector Accounting Standards” (EPSAS) and implement them in the Member States. Between 1995 and 2002, a similar project was already achieved for private sector accounting standards-setting, leading to adoption and implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The EPSAS project should decide if public sector accounting standards-setting shall follow a similar pattern to converge towards the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) that transplant the IFRS in the public sector. This choice may have fundamental implications for the European (Monetary) Union, since public sector accounting and public finances are fundamental elements of its institutional framework. This thematic issue aims to provide analyses and perspectives on this ongoing public sector accounting harmonisation process in Europe, addressing its governance and contents, as well as its consequences and implications for Europe’s economy and society.

Suggested Citation

  • Biondi Yuri, 2014. "Harmonising European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS): Issues and Perspectives for Europe’s Economy and Society," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 4(3), pages 165-178, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:aelcon:v:4:y:2014:i:3:p:14:n:5
    DOI: 10.1515/ael-2014-0015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Biondi Yuri, 2013. "Hyman Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis and the Accounting Structure of Economy," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 3(3), pages 141-166, June.
    2. 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.
    3. Hopwood, Anthony G., 1983. "On trying to study accounting in the contexts in which it operates," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 8(2-3), pages 287-305, May.
    4. Joseph E. Stiglitz & Daniel Heymann (ed.), 2014. "Life After Debt," International Economic Association Series, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-41148-8.
    5. Jane Broadbent & Andrew Gray & Peter M. Jackson, 2003. "Public-Private Partnerships: Editorial," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 135-136, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Mussari Riccardo & Sorrentino Daniela, 2017. "Italian Public Sector Accounting Reform: A Step Towards European Public Sector Accounting Harmonisation," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 7(2), pages 137-153, July.
    3. Valentin-Marian Antohi & Monica Laura Zlati & Romeo Victor Ionescu & Mihaela Neculita & Raluca Rusu & Aurelian Constantin, 2020. "Attracting European Funds in the Romanian Economy and Leverage Points for Securing their Sustainable Management: A Critical Auditing Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-27, July.
    4. Cristian Carini & Laura Rocca & Claudio Teodori & Monica Veneziani, 2017. "The Reporting Entity in Private-Public Accounting Harmonisation. Is Control Enough for the Local Government Consolidated Financial Statements?," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(1), pages 5-29.
    5. Biondi Yuri, 2017. "Harmonising European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS): Issues and Perspectives," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 7(2), pages 117-123, July.
    6. Biondi Yuri, 2017. "Which Accounting Regulation for Europe’s Economy and Society: Workshop organised by the Laboratory of Excellence on Financial Regulation (Labex ReFi) Under the auspices of the European Parliament, European Parliament, Strasbourg, 20 May 2015," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 7(2), pages 1-5, July.

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