Abstract This paper explores a system called momentum accounting, by taking analogy with traditional wealth accounting as closely as possible. The momentum accountant observes the events totally differently. Thus, the receipt of government bonds is a recordable event for her not because the wealth of the company was increased by 800, but because the holding of the bonds can now generate income at the rate of 8 per month, a momentum that did not exist before. She attributes this momentum to the owners' contributions. Both the historical cost principle and the historical momentum principle are overruled when there is clear evidence that the net wealth or the net momenta of the company has indeed been changed. Changes in net wealth are accounted for by accounts summarized in the income statement. Likewise, changes in net momenta are accounted for by accounts summarized in the impulse statement. Momentum changes are thus attributed to impulses that are considered to be responsible for the momentum change. The momentum statement is related to the income statement because of the fact that income is generated by a momentum as time passes. Whether it is the recognition of a single income item or a group of income items, the effort to smooth income is unavoidable in momentum accounting. A change in momentum, including its creation and termination, is recognized only when there is objective evidence that the change has taken place, otherwise any existing momentum is assumed to remain unchanged. A continuous fiow of income generated by a momentum is recognized as income in wealth accounting at a discrete point in time, thus requiring reconciliation.
Yuji Ijiri (Sun,) studied this question.