Do accountants matter? The role of accounting in economic development

Abstract

This paper focuses on the general lack of inter-disciplinary work in the fields of accounting, business and financial history. Particular attention is given to the role that accountants and accounting practices have, through the generation of information used by businesses and the capital market, in the development of an economy. Using the British experience since the middle of the eighteenth century as the basis for the analysis, relevant past research is surveyed, its weaknesses highlighted and areas where future research is considered vital are indicated.