Research in Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, Volume 10

The purpose of Research in Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting is to stimulate and report high-quality research on a wide range of governmental and nonprofit accounting issues. A number of papers appearing in Volume 10 differ from much of our existing empirical work. The Bento and White and Copley and Seay studies use time-series data over relatively long intervals. In the case of the Sneed and Sneed and Elder, Kattelus, and Douthett studies, the authors use methodologies which have not been employed in previous studies in either the public or private sector. To the extent that these methodologies permit investigation of previously unexplored issues, the papers will be of interest to researchers outside of the governmental and nonprofit area. Governmental and nonprofit accounting represents an undeveloped research area which would benefit from rigorous examination. The government and not-for-profit sectors are also becoming increasingly attractive research areas. There are new standards of reporting for not-for-profit entities and a proposal for a dramatic change in state and local government financial statements. Change is always an opportunity for new research. As evidenced by the Forgione chapter, data exists and is becoming increasingly available.