Anglo‐American capitalism: the role and potential role of social accounting
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal
ISSN: 0951-3574
Article publication date: 26 October 2010
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to consider the impact and potential impact of social accounting at the macro level. It aims to explore the potential for “silent” or “shadow” social accounting to hold Anglo‐American capitalism to account for its social outcomes relative to other “varieties of capitalism”.
Design/methodology/approach
The role of accounting in spreading Anglo‐American capitalist values is outlined. This is followed by a discussion of macro social indicators and their potential to problematise social outcomes. In particular the paper reports on, and updates, an investigation of comparative child mortality figures in wealthy countries that appeared in the medical literature. This evidence is used both as an exemplar and as a substantive issue in its own right.
Findings
The specific empirical evidence reported, based on a cross‐sectional and longitudinal analysis of child mortality and its relationship to income inequality, exemplifies the consistently poor and relatively worsening performance of the Anglo‐American capitalist model. A rationale, and evidence, is also presented for the potential of such social reporting to act as an accountability mechanism.
Originality/value
The paper introduces to the accounting literature specific evidence of poor social outcomes associated with Anglo‐American capitalism. It considers the wider potential role of social indicators, as a component of silent and shadow reporting at a macro‐level, in problematising dominant forms of economic and social organisation.
Keywords
Citation
Collison, D., Dey, C., Hannah, G. and Stevenson, L. (2010), "Anglo‐American capitalism: the role and potential role of social accounting", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 23 No. 8, pp. 956-981. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513571011092510
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited