In recent decades, oxytocin (OT) has been extensively studied across disciplines. Yet, the role of OT has been discussed little in the context of politics. This chapter proposes…
Abstract
In recent decades, oxytocin (OT) has been extensively studied across disciplines. Yet, the role of OT has been discussed little in the context of politics. This chapter proposes that studying the role of this hormone can enrich and advance the study of politics. The chapter reviews the previous findings on OT categorized into two sections: one that focuses on the biological mechanisms and therapeutic potentials and another that focuses on the effects on social behaviors. This review is not exhaustive but is intended to bring political scientists up to date with the progress in OT studies. Next, this chapter highlights that studying the role of OT in political context will benefit both the OT and political science literature, since there is currently a great interest in the context-dependent nature of OT. I highlight several research questions that can be answered at this intersection. Rather than waiting for other disciplines to complete unfolding the precise role of OT, students of biopolitics can make important contributions. Political science can further understand the biological underpinnings of concern for others and partisan behaviors, while OT applied to real-world settings would demonstrate how different contexts shape its effects.
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Natalia Aversano and Johan Christiaens
Heritage assets (HAs) are important goods or properties that define a country’s culture, history, and identity. Public sector entities are the primary custodians of a nation’s…
Abstract
Heritage assets (HAs) are important goods or properties that define a country’s culture, history, and identity. Public sector entities are the primary custodians of a nation’s heritage properties; however, many local museums and historic houses are managed by private not-for-profit (NFP) organisations that essentially act to conserve these heritage places.
Through a documentary analysis, this chapter aims to investigate the points of convergence and the differences between accounting policies for governmental heritage and private NFP organisations.
The study demonstrates that even private NFP entities present the same characteristics as public sector ones in the accounting of heritage goods and that there are certain accounting standards being equally applicable; therefore, the accounting policies for governmental heritage are in accordance with the accounting policies for NFP organisations such as museums, art galleries, charities, churches, for their heritage goods.
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Yuri Biondi and Lasse Oulasvirta
Recognition, measurement and disclosure of public sector assets constitute relevant matters for national and international public sector accounting standard-setting. This chapter…
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Recognition, measurement and disclosure of public sector assets constitute relevant matters for national and international public sector accounting standard-setting. This chapter develops a theoretical analysis drawing upon a dualistic approach contrasting current value and historical cost accounting models. Accordingly, the latter should be adapted and then preferred to cope with public sector specificities, with a view to providing information for and enforcing accountability to citizens and their political representatives. Drawing upon this theoretical setting, our analysis develops a consistent design for the overarching conceptual framework for assets in general, providing illustrative examples for specific categories such as financial, heritage, natural and military assets.
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Neo‐classical economic theory provides the framework for general purpose financial reports prepared by Australian government departments and their agencies. These reports, which…
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Neo‐classical economic theory provides the framework for general purpose financial reports prepared by Australian government departments and their agencies. These reports, which include a statement of financial position (financial worth) and an operating statement (an estimate of the return on the investment), have an economic rationale: the information is intended to guide the allocation of scarce government resources. All government assets, including those held for their cultural, historical or environmental values (heritage assets) are to be valued utilizing the neo‐classical theory of value. Argues that the accounting exercise is flawed. Measurement of value‐in‐use or value‐in‐exchange of heritage assets is inherently subjective, ignoring institutional conditions and non‐use values. The accounting approach fails to measure either the service value or economic benefits of governmental heritage assets. Consequently, the information generated is inconsistent with the economic rationale and the valuation process may prejudice any assessment of the performance of entities responsible for these assets. There is a strong case for either widening the concept of value to include non‐use values or abandoning the measurement of heritage assets.
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Eugenio Anessi-Pessina, Greta Nasi and Ileana Steccolini
Accounting innovations, and especially the introduction of accruals accounting, are often portrayed as fundamental aspects of publicsector reforms. An increasing body of…
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Accounting innovations, and especially the introduction of accruals accounting, are often portrayed as fundamental aspects of publicsector reforms. An increasing body of literature has been studying the experiences of different countries and levels of government, often referring to Lueder's (1992) "contingency model" and its subsequent developments. This model highlights a number of social, political, and administrative variables that are likely to affect government accounting innovations. It applies at a country-wide level and is mainly intended to describe and compare the environments within which accounting reforms take place, as well as the technical features of such reforms. Our paper, on the contrary, tries to expand the contingency model by applying it to individual organisations and by testing its explanatory power.
Lucia Biondi, Fabio Giulio Grandis and Daniele Vari
This book chapter intends to analyse a particular measurement basis, namely the ‘value in use’, regarding its definition and application in the public sector context. To this end…
Abstract
This book chapter intends to analyse a particular measurement basis, namely the ‘value in use’, regarding its definition and application in the public sector context. To this end, the current study assesses the development of a measurement practice in a particular jurisdiction, that is, Italy, compared with requirements in current International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs), in order to explore its suitability and practicability for a specific category of public sector assets, namely heritage assets.
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Pascal Balata and Gaétan Breton
The annual report has two parts, financial statements and narrative sections. Commentators have raised doubts about the harmony of the two parts. The financial statements are…
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The annual report has two parts, financial statements and narrative sections. Commentators have raised doubts about the harmony of the two parts. The financial statements are audited, therefore submitted to a form of control. The narrative sections are free style, open to confusion and manipulation. Users are potentially exposed to contradictory messages producing an effect of dissonance. We do not test the presence of dissonance for the users, but the presence of contradictory information prone to produce dissonant effect. We conduct a content analysis of the president letter and we build an index of the level of optimism contained in it. Then, we compare this index with the change in key numbers or ratios from the financial statements. Our results indicate a moderate level of divergence between the narrative sections and the accounting data. However, this level is sufficient to raise questions about the necessity to regulate the discourse accompanying the financial statements.
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Gitika Sablok, Pauline Stanton, Timothy Bartram, John Burgess and Brendan Boyle
The purpose of this paper is to examine the HRD practices of multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in Australia to understand the value that MNEs place on investment in their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the HRD practices of multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in Australia to understand the value that MNEs place on investment in their human capital, particularly managerial talent.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on a representative sample of 211 MNEs operating in Australia, this paper investigates the extent (using frequencies) and determinants (using logistic regression analysis) of training and development expenditure, management development strategies, talent management and succession planning policies.
Findings
The findings suggest that less than 20 per cent of MNEs operating in Australia are investing over 4 per cent of their annual pay bill on training and development. Furthermore, almost a quarter of firms invest less than 1 per cent in training and development. However, most MNEs invest in their managers and those with high potential through the use of management development programmes, talent management strategies and succession planning. Interestingly, in comparison to US MNEs, Australian MNEs were less likely to use management development or talent management programmes for senior management or high performing staff.
Research limitations/implications
The current study is cross-sectional and represents a snapshot of MNEs’ HRD practices at one point in time. The study measured the perceptions of the most senior HR manager and did not include the views of other organisational participants. The authors suggest the need for future research studies that incorporate longitudinal research designs and the views of different organisational actors.
Practical implications
HR managers or HRD specialists need to develop a strong understanding of the Australian institutional context, as well as demonstrate the importance/business case for an integrative approach to HRD.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified need to study the HRD practices of MNEs operating in Australia, particularly focusing on the value that MNEs place on their human capital.
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The purpose of this study is to identify the taxonomies, and the quality and quantity of environmental and social information disclosed in the annual reports of Australian firms.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify the taxonomies, and the quality and quantity of environmental and social information disclosed in the annual reports of Australian firms.
Design/methodology/approach
Using content analysis, and the broad categories of the Global Reporting Initiative as interpretive guidelines, the study examines the information disclosed in the annual reports of 187 firms listed on the Australian stock exchange over a five‐year period
Findings
The findings from logistic regression interconnect the firm's categorical imperatives with their reporting of sustainability issues and key performance indicators.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations to this research are: the subjective aspects associated with the use of content analysis and the use of logistic regression does not provide a causal relationship between variables, it only provides an interaction.
Practical implications
The results suggest a considerable reporting improvement is warranted to support user confidence in the representation, the understandability and comparability of social and environmental information. Accountability and a systemic trust by users in the information reported necessitate these qualitative characteristics form part of the reporting process.
Originality/value
The content used to communicate the environmental and social outcomes resulting from a firm's operations has increasingly become aligned to a disclosure strategy, that is, an indication of management imperatives. These results provide pragmatic insights in the disclosure of particular environmental and social classifications in the annual report, and indirectly into management reporting imperatives.