Distributable Profit As An Accounting Concept

Author : John H. Waterhouse
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (144 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Download or read book An Analysis of Profit Concepts written by John H. Waterhouse and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis advocates that the accounting concept of profit for external reporting purposes should present information which facilitates (l) the prediction of future earnings by present and potential equity and debt holders, (2) the evaluation of management by outsiders, (3) a just taxation policy, and (4) the rational control of the ubiquitous social and economic power of the modern large corporation. Moreover, the accounting concept of profit should place emphasis on the business entity as the central unit, since various and diverse groups are dependent on the corporation for employment, income, and economic growth and stability. Present practices of calculating profit fail to fulfill these objectives adequately. The problem of choosing a more relevant definition of profit is complicated by diverse opinions both within and between the economic and accounting professions. Nevertheless, by historical investigation, it is possible to identify several "theories" from which to choose. Economists have attributed the profit phenomena variously to: (l) the preferred position of the firm in buying or selling markets; (2) the ability of entrepreneurs, through innovation, to gain an excess of revenues over expenses; (3) the ability of the collective enterprise to influence the market structure; and. (4) the existence of uncertainties in combining the factors of production. Alternatively accountants have tended to be concerned with various measurement difficulties particularly those involved in the separation of profit from capital. In order to maintain real capital several forms of price-level adjustments have been suggested for the valuation of assets. Included are: (l) general purchasing power adjustments either for the value of money generally or a specific group of goods; and (2) specific asset input or output price-level adjustments. Among other points accountants have debated whether to include in the net profit figure only the results of current normal operations or all items which result in a change to owners' equity. While no single profit concept adequately fulfills all of the accounting objectives of measuring profit the uncertainty concept provides a common base. The uncertainty concept seems most appropriate because it is consistent with economic realities in describing profit as the difference between ex post and ex ante returns. Ex ante returns are estimations of future earnings made by management and communicated by accountants before the fact. They provide a guide to the investment decision maker and the creditor. We feel that ex ante returns should be all-inclusive. Ex post returns when compared to ex ante returns provide a means of evaluating the efficiency of management in achieving the firm's goals. We conclude that profits are best measured by valuing assets using a general investment price-level adjustment. As such they should present only the results of current operations. Ex post profits seem to provide the best tax base.