Discuss, in essay format, the following quotes in terms of accounting theory development and its relationship with economics:
? ?Positive Accounting Theory was embedded in a neo-liberal ideology and the unshakeable belief in the power of the market to solve almost all of society?s problems.? (Gaffikin, 2008)
? ?Regulation is needed to move towards balancing some of these [social] inequalities and, in effect, to ensure the survival of capitalism.? (Tinkler, 1984)
? ?Resort to the types of normative speculation and presumptive methodologies as advocated by some accounting academics is an abrogation of the scientific commitment to understanding real accounting issues.? (Ryan, 1980)
? ?Alternative methods were sought ? methods which had underlying ontological and epistemological positions different from those of the positivist program that had dominated Western thinking for so long.? (Gaffikin, 2008).
? ?However, many of the systematic changes [in accounting] cannot be explained by regulation or the political process effect.? (Watts & Zimmerman, 1986)


