ON THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF ACCOUNTANCY THESIS - A REVIEW-ESSAY

Hanlon's thesis on the commercialisation of accountancy is examined in relation to contemporary changes in the organization of work and the concentration and internationalization of the accounting industry. Att ention is drawn to the tensions between Hanlon's empirical materials a nd his exegesis of theoretical debates. An appreciation of the value o f his book for highlighting the wider significance of accounting to a shift from Fordist to more flexible forms of accumulation is balanced by a discussion of various limitations. These include the neglect of n on-audit business undertaken by accounting firms, and the sketchy trea tment of the links between these firms and other key players that have supported and legitimised the progressive commercialization of accoun tancy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.