Study on the feasibility of reforming budgetary accounting system in China

Abstract

为评估我国预算会计改革的可行性并拓 展相关研究领域,我们对我国预算会计信息的编报者和使用者进行了问卷调查。结果表明,我国现行收付实现制基础预算会计信息质量存在种种问题,这已成为预算 会计改革的主要动机之一;权责发生制基础预算会计信息质量明显优于现行预算会计信息,因而在预算会计改革中引入权责发生制应是有益的选择;改革必然会面临 诸多困难,势必产生改革成本。编报者和使用者对待改革的态度说明改革是可行的,因为改革的收益大于成本。改革的成本与收益会受到很多因素影响,所以相关决 策者应注意改革方向、方式以及时机的选择。在上述研究结论的基础上,我们对我国预算会计改革的实施提出了初步的政策建议。 In order to assess the feasibility of reforming China’s current cash-based budgetary accounting system, we undertake an extensive survey on preparers and users of government budget and accounting system. We find there are serious problems in China’s current cash-based budgetary accounting system, which have become one of the maim reasons for the reform. Since accrual-based budgetary accounting excels cash-based budget accounting in information quality and many other aspects, the choice of switching from cash-based to accrual-based budgetary accounting is beneficial.It is expected that considerable impediments will arise and the costs associated with such a reform will be substantial. However, the survey shows that most of the survey participants support such a reform and it indicates that the reform is feasible and necessary, because the benefit of the reform is larger than the cost. The benefits and costs can be influenced by many factors.It is suggested that the policy-makers should pay more attention to the reform model, implementation approach and time table for such reform. Based on the survey results and analysis, we provide constructive suggestions for policy-makers about reforming budgetary accounting system in China.