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Is Russian Public Sector Accounting in the Process of Modernization? An Analysis of Accounting Reforms in Russia
Author(s) -
Antipova Tatiana,
Bourmistrov Anatoli
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
financial accountability and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.661
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1468-0408
pISSN - 0267-4424
DOI - 10.1111/faam.12021
Subject(s) - accounting , modernization theory , positive accounting , accrual , accounting information system , management accounting , public sector , fund accounting , context (archaeology) , economics , politics , mark to market accounting , business , financial accounting , political science , economy , economic growth , paleontology , earnings , law , biology
The major public sector accounting reform in Russia began in 2004 envisaging ideas of ‘top‐down’ modernization through adoption of international accounting ideas from GFS/IPSASs. However, there is a decoupling between accounting practices and declared accounting norms. This is explained by ideas of accrual accounting reform fitting very well into the top political context aiming to achieve the international legitimization of Russia as a modern state, but contradicting the Russian public sector accounting tradition. Successful accounting reform, so far very much a ‘top‐down’ push process, requires strong ‘context ambassadors’ to stimulate ‘accounting curiosity’ and the processes of ‘bottom up’ accounting modernization.