Abstract
This chapter is concerned with the nature and form of accounting in the public sector and in particular its suitability as a basis for public accountability. It begins by reviewing recent developments in value for money accounting and performance indicators, before considering social accounting as an alternative means of accountability. The policy of compulsory competitive tendering is used for discussion and illustration of the social accounting approach.
I would like to thank Colin Duncan, David Hatherly, Chris Humphrey, Irvine Lapsley, John Innes, Tim Newton and David Owen for comments on an earlier draft of this chapter.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Audit Commission, Preparing for Compulsory Competition (London: HMSO, 1989).
Baumol, W.J., ‘On the Implications of the Conference Discussions’, in Baumol, W.J. (ed.), Public and Private in a Mixed Economy, (London: Macmillan, 1980).
Bourn, J., ‘National Audit Office: Force for Change’, Public Money and Management, Vol. 9, No. 1 (1989), pp. 60–3.
Byatt, I., ‘Accounting for Economic Costs and Changing Prices, Volumes 1 and 2’, A Report to Her Majesty’s Treasury by an Advisory Group chaired by I. Byatt (London: HMSO, 1986).
Chandra, J. and Kakabadse, A., Privatisation and the NHS — T he Scope for Collaboration (Aldershot: Gower, 1985).
Chick, M., ‘Privatisation: The Triumphs of Past Practice Over Current Requirements’, in Davenport-Hines, R.P.T. and Jones, G. (eds), Enterprise Management and Innovation in British Business, 1914–1980 (London: Cass, 1988).
Cooper, D., ‘Information for Labour’, in Carsberg, B. and Hope, T. (eds), Current Issues in Accounting (2nd edn) (Deddington: Philip Allan, 1984), pp. 118–35.
Counter Information Services, Ford — Anti-Report (London: CIS, undated).
Dewar, D., ‘Value for Money Audit: The First 800 Years’, Public Finance and Accountancy 30 August 1985.
End Loans to South Africa, Barclays Shadow Report (London: ELTSA, 1986).
European Trade Union Institute, Privatisation in Western Europe (Brussels: ETUI, 1988).
Gray, R., Owen, D. and Maunders, K., Corporate Social Reporting: Accounting and Accountability (Hemel Hempstead: Prentice-Hall, 1987).
Grimwood, M. and Tomkins, C., ‘Value for Money Auditing — Towards Incorporating a Naturalistic Approach’, Financial Accountability and Management, Vol. 2, No. 4 (1986), pp. 251–72.
Hall, D., The Cuts Machine — The Politics of Public Expenditure (London: Pluto, 1983).
Harte, G.F. and Owen, D.L., ‘Fighting Deindustrialisation: The Role of Local Government Social Audits’, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 12, No. 2 (1988), pp. 123–41.
Hepworth, N. and Vass, P., ‘Accounting Standards in the Public Sector’, in Hopwood, A. and Tomkins, C. (eds), Issues in Public Sector Accounting, (Deddington: Philip Allan, 1984).
Hopwood, A., ‘Accounting and the Pursuit of Efficiency’, in Hopwood, A. and Tomkins, C. (eds), Issues in Public Sector Accounting (Deddington: Philip Allan, 1984), pp. 167–87.
Hopwood, A. and Tomkins, C., ‘Introduction’, in Hopwood, A. and Tomkins, C. (eds), Issues in Public Sector Accounting (Deddington: Philip Allan, 1984), pp. 1–12.
Jones, R. and Pendlebury, M., Public Sector Accounting (London: Pitman, 1984).
Labour Research Department, Privatisation — Paying the Price (London: Labour Research Department, 1987).
Likierman, A., The Reports and Accounts of Nationalised Industries (London: HMSO, 1979).
Likierman, A., ‘Nationalized Industries’, in Henley, D., Holtham, C., Likierman, A. and Perrin, J., Public Sector Accounting and Financial Control (2nd edn) (Wokingham: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1986), pp. 132–84.
Manchester City Council, The Contractors’ Audit, Volume 1 (Manchester City Council, 1988).
Maunders, K.T., ‘Employee Reporting’, in Lee, T.A. (ed.), Developments in Financial Reporting (Deddington: Philip Allan, 1981), pp. 171–94.
Mayston, D., ‘Non-profit Performance Indicators in the Public Sector’, Financial Accountability and Management, Vol. 1, No. 1 (1985), pp. 51–74.
McSweeney, B., Value for Money Auditing: Some Observations on its Origin and Theory (Glasgow: Glasgow University, 1986).
Metcalfe, L. and Richards, S., Improving Public Management (London: Sage, 1987).
Nove, A., Efficiency Criteria for Nationalised Industries (London: Allen & Unwin, 1973).
Pollitt, C., ‘Beyond the Managerial Model: The Case for Broadening Performance Assessment in Government and the Public Services’, Financial Accountability and Management, Vol. 2, No. 3 (1986), pp. 155–70.
Rutherford, B.A., Financial Reporting in the Public Sector (London: Butterworths, 1983).
Schreuder, H. and Ramanathan, K.V., ‘Accounting and Corporate Accountability: An Extended Comment’, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 9, Nos 3/4 (1984), pp. 409–15.
Services to Community Action and Trade Unions (SCAT), The Public Cost of Private Contractors (London: SCAT, 1985).
Smith, P., ‘Performance Indicators in the National Health Service’, Public Money, Vol. 6, No. 4 (1987), pp. 35–9.
Smith, P. and Smith, D.A., ‘Local Authority Annual Reports’, Public Money, Vol. 7, No. 3 (1987), pp. 52–6.
Stewart, J.D., ‘The Role of Information in Public Accountability’, in Hopwood, A. and Tomkins, C. (eds), Issues in Public Sector Accounting (Deddington: Philip Allan, 1984), pp. 13–34.
Trades Union Congress, TUC Guide to the Local Government Bill (London: TUC, undated).
Walker, A., ‘The Political Economy of Privatisation’, in Le Grand, J. and Robinson, R. (eds), Privatisation and the Welfare State (London: Allen & Unwin, 1984), pp. 197–220.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1992 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Harte, G.F. (1992). Social Accounting Techniques. In: Duncan, C. (eds) The Evolution of Public Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11473-3_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11473-3_9
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-11475-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-11473-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Business & Management CollectionBusiness and Management (R0)