scholarly journals PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: ORIGIN, LIMITATIONS AND PROSPECTS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTING

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-136
Author(s):  
Nyalle Barboza Matos ◽  
Andréa de Oliveira Gonçalves
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Democratic Relations

ABSTRACT The main objective of this research is to identify and discuss theoretically the advances, limitations and perspectives pointed by international research to improve the accountability and evaluation aspects of PPPs. This is a theoretical essay based on the Public Choice Theory to show that the PPP accounting treatment is relevant to avoid lack of transparency and accountability, mitigating possible losses in the decision-making process and the ineffective allocation of public resources. The discussion of topics reveals the importance of public accounting in measuring the financial and social consequences that the shared responsibility of PPPs can have, defending the public interest and democratic relations. It is argued that different factors may influence PPP accounting issues, involving governance limitations, institutional weaknesses, widespread corruption, lack of transparency, weak regulatory environments, power imbalances between partners, lack of political commitment and trust. Finally, some accounting research questions and topics are presented that should be considered to prevent private interest from overriding the public interest in contracting a PPP.

scholarly journals The Public Choice View at the “Deregulation” Movement: Analyzing the Experience of European Telecommunications

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Dimitrii Trubnikov
Keyword(s):  
Public Choice ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Telecommunications Industry ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Open Market ◽  
The Real ◽  
The Public ◽  
Private Corporations

Purpose – The liberalization of European telecommunications has been expressed in highly concentrated markets with several major players at the pan-European level. Instead of fostering competitive marketplaces, the reform has created an oligopolistic landscape with powerful private corporations. This induces reasonable questions about the real objectives and the chosen ways of the reform. Methodology/approach/design – The deregulatory movement in the telecommunications sector is analyzed through contrasting perspectives of the public interest approach and public choice theory. Findings – The chance to change the landscape of the industry has been missed, and the current trend towards the global oligopolistic marketplace yields an unprecedented amount of economic power to narrow groups at the global scale. The liberalization movement introduced market mechanisms in the industry, but the real free and open market has never been formed, and it is possible to assert that it has never been among the real objectives and intentions of the policymakers. Originality/value – The recent surge of “liberalization” in the telecommunications industry speaks rather in favor of the hypothesis of vested private interests in the policy and that they have always been greatly covered by the sauce of public interest justifications. The case of telecommunications shows that ideas and understanding of economic phenomena played an important role in adoption of regulatory regimes, and it is apparent that people on the top of the social pyramid have opportunities to pick up and foster those ideas that better fit their private needs.

scholarly journals Public Service Motivation: A Rationalist Critique

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris O’Leary
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Public Service Motivation ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
Bureaucratic Behavior

There has been a significant and growing interest, and growing empirical research, around Public Service Motivation (PSM) in recent years. There are few critiques of the construct, and none from a rationalist perspective. Given that the origins of PSM lie in attempts by public administration scholars to counter rationalist explanations of bureaucratic behavior, this lack of countercriticism is surprising. This article provides a rationalist critique of PSM. It argues that PSM is consistent with, and not an alternative to, rationalist understandings of what motivates individuals. It also argues that a significant gap in the PSM literature is around how civil servants and others make decisions; decisions about the public interest, and thus how and when to allocate public resources. It concludes that seeing PSM as consistent with rationality, and specifically as a form of expressive interests, answers many of the remaining questions about PSM and addresses the substantive gaps in the construct.

A reflective analysis of the “new audit” and the public interest

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Fogarty ◽  
John T. Rigsby
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Good ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Business ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Audit Approach

PurposePrior to the sudden collapse of large companies following the turn of the century and the implication that the auditing of these enterprises had failed, the large public accounting firms sought to re‐engineer the audit. A comprehension attempt to convert that which had been designed as a social good into one more aligned with a commercial logic was halted by the legislative response to this departure from classic professionalism. Recent developments suggest that change in this direction is regrouping. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reflective analysis of the thoughts of the authors on the early development of the new audit approach.Design/methodology/approachMost of the information in the piece was garnered from conversations with public accounting partners during the era in question. Logical argumentation derived from the academic and theoretical literature is the primary method.FindingsAttributes of the firms' strategies during this period are outlined. Features of the new audit are developed, especially as they vary from the traditional audit. These techniques and approaches are analyzed in terms of their ability to serve the public interest. This paper argues that motivating factors of the new audit will continue to be a force even in the more hostile regulatory environment of today.Practical implicationsAn appreciation of the findings of the study is useful in maintaining a level of skepticism about changes to the audit that are advocated by audit firms. Users of audit services, regulators, and legislators would benefit from an appreciation of the recent past. The motivating factors underlying these changes to audit environment continue to operate over time as the social purposes of the audit are less likely to be converted by the firms to ones that can be commercially exploited.Originality/valueThe study contributes insights into the origins of the new business audit approach and related strengths and limitations. These factors should be considered as the approach is developed and moves forward into the future in order for the audit approach to be effective in performing its social functions.

Integration of Railway Electronic Systems to Achieve Safety and Efficiency

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grady C. Cothen
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Electronic Systems ◽  
Railroad Industry ◽  
The Public ◽  
Train Control ◽  
Public Resources ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Robust Response

The railroad industry, including its freight and passenger components, is at a critical crossroads. One path promises a continuation of individual innovations, conceived and priced to address sometimes narrow requirements without relation to larger needs. The other path is directed toward a more connected and effective approach, claiming individual benefits while also achieving synergies not obtainable using the first. This paper advocates an integrated approach, resisting the conventional wisdom presently attending most discussions of communications-based train control systems and electronic braking platforms. It urges a more robust response to the opportunities presently presented, taking into consideration both railroad profitability and the public interest. Appropriate consideration is given to the need for both private and public resources to be applied to achieving the resulting benefits.

Cook and Thomas, LLC: Balancing Auditor Liability, Client Confidentiality, and the Public Interest

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey R. Brasel ◽  
Brian E. Daugherty
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Difficult Situation ◽  
Auditor Liability ◽  
Accounting Firm ◽  
The Public ◽  
Optimal Balance

ABSTRACT In this case students are asked to assume the role of Alex Trifold, CPA, an audit partner for the public accounting firm, Cook and Thomas, LLC, who holds going concern information about an audit client that may impact other entities audited by Cook and Thomas. The case study illustrates how adherence to auditing standards may place auditors in a difficult situation when balancing the auditor's risk of litigation, the clients' rights to confidentiality, and the auditor's duty to the public. Additionally, the case provides exposure to prior litigation cases against auditors with unfavorable outcomes when auditors chose to protect their client's confidentiality, and, conversely, in cases where auditors chose to protect the greater public interest. The case requires students to engage in critical thinking by providing their viewpoints as to the optimal balance of limiting auditor liability, adhering to client confidentiality requirements, and simultaneously serving the public interest. The case study is appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate auditing courses.

scholarly journals Revealing the Accountability of the Sultanate of Ternate Assets in the era of Sultan Mudaffar Sjah II (1975-2015)

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-437
Author(s):  
Muhamad Dhanutirto F. Tuwow ◽  
Bambang Hariadi ◽  
Ali Djamhuri
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
City Government ◽  
Ethnographic Methods ◽  
The Public ◽  
The People ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Customary Land ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City ◽  
Historical Thought

This study aims to construct the assets accountability of the Sultan Mudaffar Sjah II era of the Ternate’s Sultanate (1975-2015). The focus of the study was to uncover various forms of embodiment and values contained in accountability during the Sultan Mudaffar Sjah II Ternate’s Sultanate. This research uses ethnographic methods developed by River and Boas. The analysis used to answer research questions uses Foucoult's historical thought analysis of Power-Knowledge. Questions were given to several informants who explained that they were competent to support this research. In carrying out asset accountability, the values inherent in the Accountability of Sultan Mudaffar Sjah are based on the philosophy of Jou se Ngofangare which is closely held by the Ternate’s Sultanate. Accountability of Jou se Ngofangare is what gave birth to a trilogy of dimensions that instills the values of a harmonious relationship between humans and God, humans and humans, and the relationship between humans and nature. The construction of accountability for Sultan Mudaffar's assets takes several forms: His view is that all property is intended for the people. Much has been done by Sultan Mudaffar Sjah during his leadership in the contemporary era, from protecting all forms of the Sultanate's assets. Starting from accountability for power, accountability for trust and responsibility for customary land, until he also donated land for the public interest in this case to the City Government of Ternate, namely for the construction of Khairun University as well as the construction of an airport.

Ethics and the Tax Profession: Restoring the Public Interest Focus

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Stuebs ◽  
Brett Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Public Interest ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Fraud Triangle ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Tax System ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fundamental Causes ◽  
Tax Practice

ABSTRACT: Tax practice is an integral component of the public accounting profession. Although accountancy as a profession embraces a strong public interest notion, there is an inevitable tension in tax practice between serving the client and maintaining the integrity of the tax system. Resolving this tension necessitates an ethics-infused judgment process. Ethical failures over the past decade have weakened the tax profession and called into question the extent to which practitioners in fact operate in a manner consistent with the public interest. In this paper, we explore the fundamental causes of the ethical problems that have plagued the tax profession and provide a roadmap for reform of the tax profession. Using Cressey’s (1953) fraud triangle as a framework, we first examine the normative ideal for the tax profession. We then examine the recent tax shelter abuses perpetrated by the major public accounting firms and find results consistent with our expectations under the fraud triangle analysis. In essence, ethical breakdowns resulted from the loss of a public interest emphasis, which in turn led to the explicit pursuit of commercial gain at the expense of the public interest. That the frauds were perpetrated within the context of a profession founded on a public interest notion is particularly concerning. In response to the problems observed, we identify key cultural reforms needed within the accounting academy, the accounting profession, and the tax system in order to restore trust and the public interest character of the tax profession to center stage and so guard against further adverse outcomes.

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