The Development of Conceptual Frameworks of Accounting for the Public Sector

This paper offers a review of the conceptual framework projects that have been done by, or on behalf of, accounting standard‐setting bodies, and that have concerned themselves with public sector accounting. Developments since 1966 in North America are the primary focus, although the UK and New Zealand are also explicitly addressed. The major theme identified is the ubiquity of the user/user needs approach, despite the continuing lack of evidence about user needs. The paper tries to explain this and concludes that standard‐setting bodies have used these conceptual frameworks to establish their own legitimacy, by appealing to the public interest.