The state of accounting research: objectives and implementation

Joshua Ronen

Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, 2012, vol. 19, issue 1, 3-11

Abstract: This essay is a reflection on the state of accounting research. It asks whether accounting research to date has served its purpose of helping set accounting policies that improve resource allocation. The essay concludes that most studies to date have failed to offer normative prescriptions for policy making. Most articles are based on non-sustainable premises: either foolish managers not realizing that the market corrects for their manipulations, or foolish traders who are unaware that wise managers exploit their foolishness by successfully manipulating accounting numbers in order to fool them. Unless research focuses on managers and investors who rationally pursue their interests, being aware that they both do so, no sustainable research findings will usefully inform policy.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1080/16081625.2012.668051

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Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics is currently edited by Yin-Wong Cheung, Hong Hwang, Jeong-Bon Kim, Shu-Hsing Li and Suresh Radhakrishnan

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