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Searching for the accounting features of capitalism: an illustration with the economic transition process in China

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  • Chiapello, Eve
  • Ding, Yuan

Abstract

In this paper, the authors show that capitalism and double-entry bookkeeping are not indissociably interconnected as Sombart argued in his book in 1916. Indeed, the double-entry bookkeeping accounting system was also adopted by anti-capitalist countries where a new economic system was set up. A study of how accounting has changed with the economic transition in China helps us identify those "accounting features" required for a capitalist economy that clearly differ from those needed for the planned and centralized economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiapello, Eve & Ding, Yuan, 2005. "Searching for the accounting features of capitalism: an illustration with the economic transition process in China," HEC Research Papers Series 817, HEC Paris.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebg:heccah:0817
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Louis Augustin-Jean, 2007. "The Social Construction of Markets in a Transitional Economy: The Example of the Sugar Industry in China," Working Papers hal-04139245, HAL.
    2. Anatol MELEGA, 2022. "Evolution Of Accounting Profession In The Brics Countries," European Journal of Accounting, Finance & Business, "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava, Romania - Faculty of Economics and Public Administration, West University of Timisoara, Romania - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 10(2), pages 1-9, June.
    3. Hoskin, Keith & Macve, Richard, 2012. "Contesting the indigenous development of “Chinese double-entry bookkeeping” and its significance in China’s economic institutions and business organization before c.1850," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 42583, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    capitalism; communism; accounting; China; reform; transitional economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B24 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Socialist; Marxist; Scraffian
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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