Adoption and Diffusion of Double Entry Bookkeeping in Mexico and Spain: A Related but Under-Investigated Development

36 Pages Posted: 11 Jan 2010

Date Written: April 1, 2009

Abstract

There is a consensus within Mexican accounting historiography regarding widespread use of double entry bookkeeping by the end of the 19th Century in the realm of both private and public enterprise. However, there is conflicting and even contradictory claims as to when exactly this technique arrived to the vice-royalty of New Spain (present day Mexico) as well as its diffusion during the colonial era. In this article we address this conflict while putting forward the idea that the history of ‘modern’ accounting practice in Latin America should be framed by developments in its former colonial power. We offer the analysis of primary and secondary source material to support the view that there was continuity in the use of double entry in Spain and therefore, the so called ‘period of silence and apparent oblivion’ seems limited to the production of indigenous accounting thought (as expressed in the production of bibliographic material such as manuals and textbooks). We conclude that the history of Latin America accounting should be wary of extrapolating everyday practice by interpreting bibliographic material and proceed by examining surviving company documents as well as informal educational practices amongst organisations based in the metropolis and its then colonies.

Keywords: double entry, diffusion of accounting systems, knowledge transfer, Mexico (New Spain), Spain

JEL Classification: N8, M41, N46, N44

Suggested Citation

Hernandez-Borreguero, Julian and Maixé-Altés, J. Carles and Núñez-Torrado, Miriam and Batiz-Lazo, Bernardo, Adoption and Diffusion of Double Entry Bookkeeping in Mexico and Spain: A Related but Under-Investigated Development (April 1, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1534163 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1534163

Julian Hernandez-Borreguero

University of Seville ( email )

Avda. del Cid s/n
Sevilla, Sevilla 41004
Spain

J. Carles Maixé-Altés

University of A Coruna ( email )

Faculty of Economics and Business
Campus de Elviña s/n
A Coruña, A Coruña 15071
Spain
+34981167000 (Phone)
+34981167070 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://ecoapli1.udc.es/maixe

Miriam Núñez-Torrado

University of Seville ( email )

Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales
Avda. Ramón y Cajal, s/n
Sevilla, Sevilla 41018
Spain
+34 54 55 6043 (Phone)
+34 54 55 7569 (Fax)

Bernardo Batiz-Lazo (Contact Author)

Northumbria University ( email )

Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST
United Kingdom

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