Let's Have More Choice in Accounting Education: A Look at Some Economic and Ethical Issues

Abstract

Accounting education has become quite rigid, mostly because it is structured along the lines of a monopoly. The American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has been granted a national monopoly by the Department of Education to accredit business programs and the six regional accreditation agencies have a similar monopoly for their regions of the country. Curriculum is structured along the lines of a top-down system. The author argues for more flexibility in curriculum requirements using a bottom-up approach that is more consumer driven.

Keywords: Choice; Accounting education; Monopoly; Ethics

JEL Classification: D18, D42, D6, D72, I2, L4, M4