Inflation Accounting: More Questions than Answers

International Journal of Management, IT and Engineering, Volume 5, Issue 3 ISSN: 2249-0558 March 2015

15 Pages Posted: 11 Apr 2015

See all articles by Vincent Tawiah

Vincent Tawiah

University of Mysore - Department of Commerce; Griffith University; University of Cape Coast; Dublin City University Business School

Muhaheranwa Benjamin

Maharishi Markendeshwar Group of Institution - Maharishi Markandeshwar University (MMU)

Dorothee Mukakibibi

Kampala International University

Date Written: March 1, 2015

Abstract

The sole responsibility of accounting is to present what has transpired within a given period through reporting not what should have occurred or will occur. Despite fitting correctly into the definition of reporting business event, historical cost accounting in recent times has come under heavy criticism of lacking behind economic trends due to the use of original cost. Historical cost accounting has been challenge on principles of uniform monetary measure and matching concepts. These growing dissatisfaction with historical cost accounting as a method of reporting financial statements has made it necessary to consider alternative method which is accounting for price level changes. Unfortunately, this alternative has not been put to practice due to its unattractiveness. It is against this background that this paper attempts to discuss some novel questions with recommendations about the existing inflation accounting methods. Aside the traditional disadvantages of inflation accounting, this article have critically examine the restatement of items under inflation accounting against basic accounting, economics and finance principles. In addition the novel questions have been raised on the consistency and rationale behind the treatment of certain items under price level changes accounting. The article argues that, inflation accounting is not only inconsistent with accounting principles but also with related subjects such as economics and finance. In practice inflation accounting creates illusionary or imaginary profit which does not exist, thus capital maintenance concept is just a paper theory because much of the profit under inflation accounting is unrealised or holding gain Inflation accounting distorts the basic objective of reporting what happen within a period or at specific time. The greatest deterrent to adoption of price level changes accounting is what it is not: inflation accounting is not present value, net realizable value, or current market values or fair value and therein lies much of the opposition to its use. In line with these questions, the article recommends that, inflation accounting can only be meaningful with new accounting system since the existing system is based on historical cost accounting.

Keywords: Inflation Accounting, historical accounting, GPPA and CCA

Suggested Citation

Tawiah, Vincent and Tawiah, Vincent and Benjamin, Muhaheranwa and Mukakibibi, Dorothee, Inflation Accounting: More Questions than Answers (March 1, 2015). International Journal of Management, IT and Engineering, Volume 5, Issue 3 ISSN: 2249-0558 March 2015 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2592883 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2592883

Vincent Tawiah (Contact Author)

University of Mysore - Department of Commerce ( email )

Mysore
India

Griffith University ( email )

PMB 50
Gold Coast Queensland 9726
Australia

University of Cape Coast ( email )

PMB, UCC, GHANA
Cape Coast, Central Region PMB
Ghana

HOME PAGE: http://ucc.edu.gh

Dublin City University Business School ( email )

Dublin 9
Ireland

Muhaheranwa Benjamin

Maharishi Markendeshwar Group of Institution - Maharishi Markandeshwar University (MMU)

Mullana
Ambala, Haryana 136119
India

Dorothee Mukakibibi

Kampala International University

P.O. BOX 20000
KAMPALA, KAMPALA 020000
Uganda

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