Public Sector Performance Reporting: The Intellectual Capital Question?

Presented to the Ninth International Research Symposium on Public Management, Bocconi University, 6-8 April 2005, Milan, Italy

31 Pages Posted: 17 Mar 2009

See all articles by Tyrone M. Carlin

Tyrone M. Carlin

Southern Cross University

Kittiya Yongvanich

Ramkhamhaeng University

James Guthrie

Macquarie University - Department of Accounting and Finance; University Of Bologna - Department of Management; Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School

Date Written: April 6, 2005

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the reporting frameworks used within the public sectors of a wide variety of jurisdictions have undergone significant change. Much of this change has arguably been relatively incremental, resulting in reporting frameworks still being cast in highly traditional form. At the same time, events in global capital markets have resulted in many elements of traditional reporting frameworks being discredited. In this paper, we examine the possibility that alternative reporting frameworks, and specifically those related to intellectual capital (IC), might be beneficially adopted in public sector settings. We examine reasons why such an outcome might be beneficial, and examine a range of established alternative reporting frameworks that address IC, together with some of their strengths and weaknesses. We argue that there is room for the adoption of elements of these systems in public sector settings, and that it is plausible to anticipate material accountability and transparency benefits as a result.

Keywords: Intellectual Capital, Accrual budgets and reports, Reporting Frameworks, Public Sector

JEL Classification: M4, M40, M41, M49

Suggested Citation

Carlin, Tyrone M. and Yongvanich, Kittiya and Guthrie, James, Public Sector Performance Reporting: The Intellectual Capital Question? (April 6, 2005). Presented to the Ninth International Research Symposium on Public Management, Bocconi University, 6-8 April 2005, Milan, Italy, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1361369

Tyrone M. Carlin

Southern Cross University ( email )

Military Road
Lismore, New South Wales 2480
Australia

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.scu.edu.au/about/vice-chancellor/

Kittiya Yongvanich

Ramkhamhaeng University ( email )

RU Printing Press Bldg., 7th floor
Ramkhamhaeng Road
Huamark, Bangkapi, Bangkok, 10240
Thailand

James Guthrie (Contact Author)

Macquarie University - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

Sydney - NSW, 2109
Australia

University Of Bologna - Department of Management ( email )

P.Le Vittoria 15
Forli', 47121
Italy
+39-0543-374-621 (Phone)

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School ( email )

New South Wales 2109
Australia