Motives, money and microfinance – Are we measuring the right subsidy variable?
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2007 AFAANZ Conference, The Gold Coast, Queensland : 1st-3rd July 2007
- Full Text: false
- Description: In the next ten years, society will spend $20 billion U.S. on Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Previous research on the impact of subsidies suggests that there is little if any consensus on an effective method to measure the impact of subsidies with considerable doubt existing that a financial variable is the most appropriate method. Findings suggest that in order for the impact of subsidies to be fully reconciled, some consideration must be given to the initial objectives and underlying motives of MFIs and subsidy providers as this has an intrinsic bearing on any result they are attempting to achieve. I have attempted to shed light on a significant failure of the microfinance movement to date, in that we still have not clearly articulated by what qualitative measure we are to determine the success of MFI’s. Identifying what is the priority issue, even if it is a combination of factors requires willingness on behalf of both pro and anti- subsidy lobbies to concede that their approach may not be the most important. In order to transcend this discord a retrospective approach is taken to the impact of subsidies, whereby they are analysed from an initial substantive view in regard to underlying motive. I use this framework to assess microfinance in general and then apply my findings to a policy framework for microfinance institutions (MFIs) and subsidy providers.
- Description: 2003005169
The impact of subsidies on microfinance
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 6th annual Hawaii International Conference on Business, Honolulu, Hawaii : 25th May, 2006
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In the next ten years, society will spend $20 billion U.S. on Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Previous research on the impact of subsidies suggests that there is little if any consensus on an effective method to measure the impact of subsidies with considerable doubt existing that a financial variable is the most appropriate method. Findings suggest that in order for the impact of subsidies to be fully reconciled, some consideration must be given to the initial objectives and underlying motives of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and subsidy providers as this has an intrinsic bearing on any result they are attempting to achieve. I have attempted to shed light on a significant failure of the microfinance movement to date, in that we still have not clearly articulated by what qualitative measure we are to determine the success of MFI’s. Identifying what is the priority issue, even if it is a combination of factors requires willingness on behalf of both pro and anti- subsidy lobbies to concede that their approach may not be the most important. In order to transcend this discord a retrospective approach is taken to the impact of subsidies, whereby they are analysed from an initial substantive view in regard to underlying motive. I use this framework to assess microfinance in general and then apply my findings to a policy framework for microfinance institutions (MFIs) and subsidy providers.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001818
Governance and accountability in Australian charitable organisations: Perceptions from CFOs
- Authors: Dellaportas, Steven , Langton, Jonathan , West, Brian
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Accounting and Information Management Vol. 20, no. 3 (2012), p. 238-254
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of senior accounting officers on governance, performance and accountability issues in the charity sector. Design/methodology/approach - The empirical data presented in this paper were collected via a mail-out survey to Chief Financial Officers (CFO) of large charity organisations in Australia. Findings - The executives surveyed agreed that the public is entitled to receive high quality financial disclosures from charities, favouring "programme accountability", "fiscal accountability" and "profit" as relevant performance indicators rather than cash surplus/deficit. The respondents also considered that charities warrant a dedicated accounting standard but were less enthusiastic about an independent regulator with stronger control functions. Research limitations/implications - The data in this study report the opinions of financial executives which may not represent the view of all managing executives. Originality/value - While governance in charities has been examined previously from an organisational or management perspective, this is one of the few papers that emphasises how members of the accounting profession view this important topic.
100 years of annual reporting by Australian Red Cross : Accountability amidst wars, disasters and loss of life
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Purpose: This critical interpretive and historical case study of Australian Red Cross extends from the organisation’s beginning in 1914 through to the present day. The overarching purpose is to reveal and analyse the annual reporting practices of one of Australia’s oldest and most important humanitarian organisations in the discharge of accountability over the course of a century. Design/methodology/approach: A Political Economy of Accounting theoretical framework guides the content analysis and interpretation of findings. Background: While the review of literature acknowledges the annual report as a crucial element in the discharge of accountability, studies investigating the evolution of annual reports of International nongovernmental development and humanitarian aid organisations (INGDHOs) over extended periods of time appear to be absent from the literature. Findings: The annual reports were found to be responsive to the changing social, political, economic and institutional environment, casting doubt on any claims to objectivity in organisational management’s disclosures, including assertions regarding unadulterated adherence to its Fundamental Principles. Furthermore, sources of pressure from the wider environmental context impacted upon the development of accountability regimes and shaped the way in which organisational management reported to stakeholders. These regimes evidence the alignment of mission preservation and emotive disclosures with strategic priorities. Implications: This study extends understandings of how INGDHOs discharge accountability through annual reporting practices. It provides a more holistic framework for understanding the role of accountability in organisational management reporting, the development of accountability regimes and the implications for organisational and social functioning. Originality/value (significance): The contribution is distinctive not only for the context and extensive period covered, but also for the significant institutional setting of Australian Red Cross – encompassing deep social, political, economic and institutional changes. This adds to the extant literature and provides significant insights into the contested interplay between annual reporting practices and accountability regimes.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
One hundred years of annual reporting by the Australian Red Cross : Building public trust and approbation through emotive disclosures
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan , West, Brian
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Accounting History Vol. 21, no. 2-3 (2016), p. 185-207
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Marking the centenary of the Australian Red Cross, this interpretive and historical case study spans the organization’s beginning in 1914 through to the present day. The overarching purpose is to reveal how one of Australia’s oldest and most important humanitarian organizations used accounting and related information in the discharge of accountability. More specifically, this longitudinal study examines the organization’s annual reporting practices over the course of a century, with particular focus on the emotive disclosures contained in the reports. A political economy of accounting theoretical framework guides the content analysis and the interpretation of the findings. The annual reports were found to be responsive to the changing institutional, social, economic and political environment and evidence the organization’s reliance upon emotive disclosures to discharge a broad scope accountability and build public trust and approbation. © The Author(s) 2016.
Financial reporting and accountability in charitable organisations
- Authors: Dellaportas, Steven , Langton, Jonathan , West, Brian
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2008 AFAANZ / IAAER Conference, Sydney, New South Wales : 6th-8th July 2008
- Full Text: false
- Description: The not-for-profit sector is made up of approximately 700,000 entities employing around 600,000 people and controlling assets up to $70 billion, with the largest charities comparing favourably in size and value to big business. While it is expected that many charitable organisations are well-managed and make a significant contribution to society, a lack of good governance and/or accountability could have devastating affects on the community. Official inquiries into the not-for-profit sector have questioned the lack of transparency and accountability created by a complex legal and regulatory regime. Critics of the existing regime have called for reforms including mandatory financial reporting requirements and an independent regulator to enhance public accountability and organizational efficiency and performance. This study provides an insight into the financial reporting activities of Australia’s largest charities so as to provide a measure of the extent to which charities meet public expectations of accountability. This involved the examination of over 100 publicly available reports for charitable organizations and the administration of a questionnaire. The majority of charities examined in this study provide community, welfare or health services, employ over 100 employees, and rely on a similar number of volunteers to assist with their activities. We have attempted to shed light on a significant failure of the not-for-profit sector to date, in that although our research highlights inconsistencies in reporting formats, ambiguus financial information and a high proportion of qualified audit reports there is a strong belief from charity organisations that the public is entitled to receive quality information on financial performance, suggesting that increased financial disclosures would be beneficial to the charitable sector. Respondents supported ‘programme accountability’ (89.1%), ‘fiscal accountability’ (78.2%) and ‘profit’ (76.6%) as suitable measures of performance with the circumstances of not-for-profit organisations sufficiently different to require a specific and dedicated accounting standard for the sector.
- Description: 2003006345