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Just a Matter of Prospect (Theory)? - The Ecological Rationality of the Traditional Accounting Principles

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Abstract

The principles characterizing the traditional revenue-expense approach to accounting have never been “invented.” They are an institution that is the result of social evolution, not of human design. Therefore, the efforts to defend them against the balance sheet approach endorsed by standard-setters have encountered severe difficulties. The latter is based on a coherent model of the economy, namely neoclassical economics. This paper argues that a solid basis for explaining the rationale of the traditional accounting principles can be found in behavioral economics, especially in Prospect Theory. If one combines this result with a market process view of the economy, the revenue-expense approach turns out to be congenial to the organization of the market economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduard Braun, 2014. "Just a Matter of Prospect (Theory)? - The Ecological Rationality of the Traditional Accounting Principles," TUC Working Papers in Economics 0012, Abteilung für Volkswirtschaftslehre, Technische Universität Clausthal (Department of Economics, Technical University Clausthal).
    • Handle: RePEc:tuc:tucewp:0012
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    1. Smith,Vernon L., 2009. "Rationality in Economics," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521133388, September.
    2. Smith, Vernon L., 2005. "Behavioral economics research and the foundations of economics," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 135-150, March.
    3. Waymire, Gregory B. & Basu, Sudipta, 2008. "Accounting is an Evolved Economic Institution," Foundations and Trends(R) in Accounting, now publishers, vol. 2(1–2), pages 1-174, September.
    4. Vernon L. Smith, 2003. "Constructivist and Ecological Rationality in Economics," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(3), pages 465-508, June.
    5. Paul F. Williams, 2003. "Modern accounting scholarship: the imperative of positive economic science," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(3), pages 251-269, September.
    6. Yuan Mingzhe & Liu Huifeng, 2011. "The Economic Consequences of Fair Value Accounting," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 1(2), pages 1-44, April.
    7. Sunder, Shyam, 2005. "Minding our manners: Accounting as social norms," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 367-387.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Accounting; Prospect Theory; Fair Value; Historical Costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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