5. Concluding comments
Kingdon's garbage can model of policy development provides a possible explanation of how an inappropriate solution (application of business-style accounting) for a policy problem (appropriate accounting practices for government) may emerge. Kingdon's model also contemplates policy entrepreneurs creating the conditions to which the pre-decided solution may be applied (Wallis and Dollery, 1997). Policy entrepreneurs from both New Zealand and Australia have subsequently been involved in efforts to apply business-style accounting to governments worldwide.
The idea that ‘good governance’ in all governments may be achieved by adopting business-style financial reporting standards begs the question of exactly what will be achieved by observing these standards. The need to look closely at the standards and what they achieve, rather than accepting rhetorical claims at face value has been acknowledged both by economists promoting neo-liberal reforms (for example, Buchanan et al., 1987) and by accountants (for example, Hopwood, 1984). When the financial reports of governments are presented as if the governments were businesses, the constitutive nature of accounting suggests that eventually governments will be regarded as businesses.
Despite assertions that adopting business-style accounting based upon IFRS will improve governance, those standards were devised for limited liability companies which limit shareholders' risk and encourage management to take risks with shareholders' funds to earn superior financial returns. Those standards were not designed in contemplation of the unlimited liability for government debt borne by taxpayers and citizens. This unlimited liability makes essential the maintenance of constitutional controls over the executive government and over its access to public money. Cash expenditure controls are not a feature of business-style accounting (Biondi, 2006). Further, this unlimited liability makes probity-related accountability requirements especially important. As evidenced by the examples from New Zealand, business-style financial reports involve the application of a business logic that is inconsistent with the public purpose and context of government financial activities, and are not suitable for this purpose.
In New Zealand, where this business-style accounting initiative has been proceeding for some years, the adverse constitutional implications are becoming increasingly apparent. The shift to business-style financial management and reporting has meant the disabling and removal of key Westminster-style parliamentary safeguards and conventions, and thus reducing Parliament's power to scrutinize and exert financial control over the government of the day. Evidently, these changes transfer power to the executive government.