This book is a resource book for the comprehensive study of the development of accounting thought. It is designed to facilitate the study of the original works and stimulate further study of important accounting theory forbears. It covers: accounting theory accounting concepts of profit financial accounting and the foundations of accounting measurement accounting evaluation and economic behaviour.

Financial accounting theory has numerous practical applications and policy implications, for instance, international accounting standard setters are increasingly relying on theoretical accounting concepts in the creation of new standards; and corporate regulators are increasingly turning to various conceptual frameworks of accounting to guide regulation and the interpretation of accounting practices. The global financial crisis has also led to a new found appreciation of the social, economic and political importance of accounting concepts generally and corporate financial reporting in particular. For instance, the fundamentals of capital market theory (i.e. market efficiency) and measurement theory (i.e. fair value) have received widespread public and regulatory attention. This comprehensive, authoritative volume provides a prestige reference work which offers students, academics, regulators and practitioners a valuable resource containing the current scholarship and practice in the established field of financial accounting theory.

Presents complex materials in a clear and understandable manner. Incorporating the latest accounting standards and presenting the most up-to-date accounting theory from the top academic journals in accounting and finance throughout the world.

Historical Developments in the Accountancy Profession, Financial Reporting, and Accounting Theory contains ten manuscripts authored by C. Richard Baker during an academic career that spans four decades, picking up on various understudied threads of academic and professional initiatives over the past several hundred years.

Accounting is the discipline with the oldest historical culture, being the first to be recognized by humanity when Adam and Eve were made to account for what they did in paradise. It is also the only discipline that will come into play in the Hereafter, where everybody would be raised up as an accountant - to account for all they have done during their life time on earth! Accounting is a service-providing discipline, with a rich theoretical background, which makes available information (especially financial) to guide various decision-making processes. Business owners, creditors, managers, prospective investors, government and its agencies, employees and even the general public seek accounting information to guide them when taking various informed decisions about reporting entities and the environment within which they operate. This book addresses the historical accounting culture, its theories as well as its practices. It is made up of fifteen chapters, covering various historical, theoretical and practical aspects of Accounting, ranging from accounting standardization to financial reporting. The book is an attempt to address some of the lacunae in advanced accounting issues, both in theory and in practice. Students of advanced accounting theory and practice at the professional and academic levels in Universities, Polytechnics and Professional Institutes would find the book an essential companion.

Provides a comprehensive introduction to accounting theory for students who are majoring in accounting. This text will also provide an evaluation of accounting theory from a number of alternative perspectives and paradigms.