Research in Accounting - Areas Awaiting the Glare of Spotlight

Abstract

For all of us who are in the field of accounting education and research, it is academically comfortable and customary to critique what is being done, rather than focusing on the vacant spaces and questions of absence which deserve the glare of spotlight. In this short address, I, therefore, venture to throw some light on some such areas that demand attention of researchers due to changing contours of globalization, desire for higher growth, development in electronic communication, changing regulations and creation of new institutions and laws, which are collectively, increasing the research gaps as also giving rise to the new area of research. What worries me is our ability and willingness to address the multitude of issues and problems that still characterize the realms of accounting ideas and practices. Here, my concern is future oriented. I am worried by the narrowness of outlook and the careerist rather than curiosity-oriented nature of an increasing amount of research. To provide a perspective and insight into where to go from here, I have tried to look at methodological issues and then based on the review of studies in USA, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India I have identified areas for research such as external financial reporting, management accounting, corporate governance and audit, and forensic accounting. What is aimed at is to throw light on the unspotted spheres in an assorted manner, instead of developing an exhaustive list of research themes.