Abstract The empirical managerial accounting literature has failed to produce a substantive cumulative body of knowledge. This literature has not matured beyond describing practice to developing and testing theories explaining observed practice, like other areas of accounting research. While the lack of publicly available data is a popular reason for this literature's underdeveloped state. it is not the only one. Other conjectures include: its inductive approach, researchers incentives, its use of non-economics-based frame. works, the lack of empirically testable theories, and its emphasis on decision making, not control. C 2001 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved. JEL classification: M4l