Discussion of ‘A change in the research paradigm in corporate reporting? Some reflections on the role of the accounting academia’

The opinion piece written by Araceli Mora is very interesting and raises important issues for accounting academia. I offer further elements to feed the debate and dis cussion. The core of Araceli Mora’s paper is that corporate reporting is experiencing a serious requestioning of the main and dominant view as to the objective of corpo rate reporting, that is, the predominantly short-term ‘decision usefulness’ view. She believes that this first evolved following the 2007-8 financial crisis to a financial stability role and a protecting the European economy role to now being even more broadly a long term ‘public interest’ view. Araceli Mora then exposes what she be- lieves to be the current main challenges for accounting academia. First, a required further rethink of the research questions and methodologies we use. Second, an often narrow view of what constitutes the top journals in our field where, in the end, very few papers are published, there is a high rejection rate and a very long review process. She also believes this narrow focus leads to a lack of innovation. Third, the undue influence of the impact factors has driven many to publish outside of account- ing journals and does not recognize the useful role local/national journals can play in exposing research on specific local institutional settings. Fourth, the sometimes questionable social impact of the research we do.

Keywords: corporate reporting, accounting academia, public interest