Corporate social reporting: a cook's tour

Abstract

Abstract: This paper considers the state and future of social accounting. It starts by acknowledging that accounting as human practice has power that must be actively acknowledged and questioned. Yet at the same time social expectations of accounting may be shifting which would threaten the position held by the accounting profession. Corporate Social Reporting (CSR) may be an important factor in bridging the divide between the profession, the academy and society. However serious concerns are raised about both the practice and theory of CSR. CSR has the potential to change accounting, contributing broader information to a wider public allowing better informed decisions, but there is a long way to go.