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- The contribution of pilot entities to the implementation of the new public sector accounting system in PortugalPublication . Nogueira, Sónia P.; Jorge, Susana M.; Ribeiro, Nuno A.; Jesus, Maria AntóniaThe global financial crisis has emphasized the need for harmonized public sector accounts. Concerning accountability, transparency and sustainability several countries initiated reforms in public sector accounting. Across the world there has been a general trend for public sector accounting moving into accrual-based systems, supported by the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). In the institutionalization process, pilot entities seem to be strategically important to consider, especially in cases where the new system involves significant innovations. This paper introduces new theoretical arguments to explain, combining the new institutional theory with institutional logics. Using Portugal as an illustrative case, it addresses both the perspective of stakeholders and decision-makers. Main findings show that the use of pilot entities is acknowledged important mainly where prudence seems to be relevant to assure success in implementing accounting innovations. However, pilot entities must be offered enough means and support, so they can deal with the changes, offer relevant feedback to supervising bodies and express a more committed attitude towards the reforms.
- Information brokers and the use of budgetary and financial information by politicians: the case of PortugalPublication . Jorge, Susana M.; Jesus, Maria Antónia; Nogueira, Sónia P.This paper analyses the intermediary role of the technical bodies that support the use of budgetary and financial information by central government politicians in Portugal. The main findings show that information brokers are playing a central role in preparing this information in a credible, simple and understandable way. However, even if not intentionally, the information they present can be biased. Politicians need to be aware that the information brokers they rely on may not be giving them ‘neutral’ information.
- A reforma da Contabilidade Pública em Portugal e o Uso da Informação Financeira pelos PolíticosPublication . Jorge, Susana M.; Jesus, Maria Antónia; Nogueira, Sónia P.A temática dos utilizadores da informação financeira constitui um tópico central e recorrente nos estudos sobre as estruturas concetuais subjacentes quer às normas da contabilidade empresarial, quer às normas da Contabilidade Pública. De acordo com a estrutura concetual do IPSASB (IPSASB, 2014, §2.4), os utilizadores principais do relato financeiro de finalidade geral (RFFG) das entidades do setor público são: cidadãos, i.e., "recetores de serviços e fornecedores de recursos que não possuem autoridade suficiente para requerer a uma entidade pública que divulgue a informação que eles necessitam para os propósitos de prestação de responsabilidades (accountability) e tomadas de decisão". Adicionalmente, "o governo (ou órgão semelhante) e os membros do parlamento (ou de um órgão representativo semelhante) também são utilizadores principais do RFFG, e fazem uso extensivo e continuado do RFFG ao atuarem na sua qualidade de representantes dos interesses dos recipientes de serviços e fornecedores de recursos".
- The contribution of pilot entities to the implementation of the new public sector accounting system in PortugalPublication . Nogueira, Sónia P.; Jorge, Susana M.; Ribeiro, Nuno A.; Jesus, Maria AntóniaThe global financial crisis has emphasized the need for harmonized public sector accounts. Concerning accountability, transparency and sustainability several countries initiated reforms in public sector accounting. Across the world there has been a general trend for public sector accounting moving into accrual-based systems, supported by the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). In the institutionalization process, pilot entities seem to be strategically important to consider, especially in cases where the new system involves significant innovations. This paper introduces new theoretical arguments to explain, combining the new institutional theory with institutional logics. Using Portugal as an illustrative case, it addresses both the perspective of stakeholders and decision-makers. Main findings show that the use of pilot entities is acknowledged important mainly where prudence seems to be relevant to assure success in implementing accounting innovations. However, pilot entities must be offered enough means and support, so they can deal with the changes, offer relevant feedback to supervising bodies and express a more committed attitude towards the reforms.
- A new approach to determinant factors of local government DEBT: structural equations analysisPublication . Ribeiro, Nuno A.; Jorge, Susana M.; Nogueira, Sónia P.; Jesus, Maria AntóniaThe general aim of this research is to define a structural/conjunctural model to explain the debt of the 308 Portuguese municipalities. More specifically, the intention is to understand whether there is a relationship between the institutional, tax, budgetary and economic circumstances and municipalities' debt. The period from 2004 to 2016 is studied using a structural equation methodology, which is believed to be a major contribution of this research. The results allow concluding that the institutional, tax and budgetary situations present a negative and statistically significant relationship with municipal debt. This means that, in the local government setting, when the institutional, tax and budgetary contexts are favourable, debt levels tend to be lower. Therefore, municipalities should take advantage of their institutional context and of periods of higher tax revenue, increased central government grants and investment expenditure, to reduce their debt levels, so they can face other circumstances pushing for debt increases.
- Do politicians at central level use accounting information? Some evidence from the Portuguese casePublication . Jorge, Susana M.; Jesus, Maria Antónia; Nogueira, Sónia P.This article aims at analysing the type of information, as well as its use and usefulness, by politicians, either members of parliament or members of central government in Portugal, addressing particularly the following question: What type of accounting (budgetary and financial) information politicians (parliamentarians and members of government) use, what is its usefulness and for what purposes? The empirical study is based on interviews with head politicians, namely the head of the Parliamentary Commission of Budget, Finance and Public Administration (COFAP) and the Budget Secretary of State. On the other hand, interviews were also conducted with head officials of units that prepare information for politicians – the Technical Unit of Budgetary Support (UTAO) working for the Parliament, and the Budget General Department (DGO), working for the Government.
- The use of budgetary and financial information by politicians in parliament: a case studyPublication . Jorge, Susana M.; Jesus, Maria Antónia; Nogueira, Sónia P.The purpose of this paper is to research the use of accounting information by politicians. Based on the Portuguese Parliament setting, it seeks to understand how useful politicians consider this information to be, what type of budgetary and financial information they use, and for what purposes. Finally, the research also seeks to find out whether politicians resort to expert intermediaries or advisors help them in the use of this information. Design/methodology/approach Following a qualitative and interpretative methodology, the study draws upon interviews with Members of Parliament in Portugal (and their technical advisors (TAs)) from all political parties, in particular the members of the Budget, Finance and Administrative Modernization Committee (COFMA) of the Parliament. Findings Research shows that, due to the general lack of knowledge and the complexity of the accounting information, politicians in the Parliament do not use it frequently, only occasionally. To be better or worse informed for the debates and other activities depends on each Member of Parliament’s personal willingness to prepare oneself, notwithstanding some aggregated and previously analyzed information made available by official technical support units. Parliamentarians may also resort to TAs, who prepare the information at their request. Both intermediaries and TAs are deemed important to support parliamentarians’ understanding of more technical budgetary and financial issues. Practical implications This paper shows that politicians acknowledge there is room for improving the role of information intermediaries and advisors, who would support them to better understand and use accounting information. Parliamentary groups incharge of hiring advisors, as well as accounting professionals, in Portugal and in other countries, must be aware of the very useful role accountants play in this process. Social implications While allowing to understand whether and how politicians use accounting information, this research contributes to the process of public sector accounting reforms in Portugal, and at an international level, inasmuch as public sector accounting and reporting standards should better address these users’ information needs. Assuming that these reforms would foster more accurate, transparent and useful information for accountability and decision making, it is essential that politicians acknowledge and become real users of accounting information, in order to accomplish those objectives. Originality/value This study contributes to the general knowledge of how politicians use accounting information. Academic studies so far have not gathered enough evidence about the type of accounting information that is actually important for politicians. This paper highlights that use of such information by politicians depends on individual skills and their willingness to receive the appropriate advice.
- Financial information use in parliamentary debates in a changing contextPublication . Jorge, Susana M.; Nogueira, Sónia P.; Jesus, Maria AntóniaApplying quantitative and qualitative content and sentiment analysis, this study investigates the use of financial information by politicians in the Portuguese parliament, in a changing context. There is clear preference for Budgetary Information. A change in the political majority in Parliament and an improvement in the country’s economic and financial situation affect the intensity and intentions of using financial information by politicians – the use with positive sentiments of those government-related, to legitimize their policies, and with negative sentiments when they pass to the opposition, using it as ammunition or to divert attention from measures implemented when they were in power.
- The use of budgetary and financial information by politicians in Portugal: the role of technical advisorsPublication . Jorge, Susana M.; Jesus, Maria Antónia; Nogueira, Sónia P.After more than thirty years of reforms in public sector accounting, marked by approximation to the business accounting model, namely through the introduction of accrual-based financial accounting, the usefulness of the information produced by public sector accounting systems worldwide seems to be questioned. Considering the main purposes of accountability and decision-making, questions raise especially concerning the use and usefulness by those considered one of the main users of the public sector budgetary and financial information – politicians. The debate in the academic sphere not only discusses whether politicians use budgetary and financial reporting information, but also why they do not use, if this is the case. Some seem to believe that information technicality and complexity might be one of the reasons limiting its use by politicians. Therefore, it appears that advisory and supporting technical groups – ‘information brokers’ – play an important role as intermediaries in treating and simplifying budgetary and accounting information to be used by politicians. This paper aims at analysing the type of information, as well as its use and usefulness, by politicians either members of parliament or members of central government in Portugal, through the analysis of the intermediary role of advisory and supporting technical bodies, such as CFP, UTAO and DGO. Main findings allow concluding that, although there seems to be a general acknowledgement of the split cash-based/accrual-based budgetary and financial information, both technical units and politicians in Central Government in Portugal give privilege to cash-based budgetary information for their use to support political debates and policy-making. Technical advisory and supporting units, especially DGO and UTAO, have a crucial role in gathering and preparing the information for politicians, i.e., the use of public sector budgetary and financial information by politicians would not be the same without these units’ expertise. However, they also prefer and rely on cash-based information, especially for budgetary reporting purposes. Maybe because the members of these units are economists and not accountants, accrual-based (financial) accounting is misunderstood with ESA and the National Statistics. Additionally, both technical units and politicians associate financial information needs to National Accounts purposes, mainly to assess deficit and debt accomplishment under Maastricht criteria. In summary, although it is obvious that the work of the technical advisory or supporting units has great contribution for the use of public sector budgetary and financial information by politicians, it seems also clear that these units probably need members with accounting expertise, so as accrual-based financial information might be gathered and analysed in order to be understood and used by politicians. While being an explorative study, this paper is original as an unprecedented research, contributing to both clarify on the use of budgetary and financial information by politicians, as well as on highlighting the role of intermediaries as experts that might affect the use and usefulness politicians consider regarding that type of information.