Redefining the boundaries of public sector accounting research?

In this paper we assess the different contributions to public sector accounting research in recent decades. We draw on Burrell and Morgan's (1985) framework to study two distinct aspects of public sector accounting: first, the Private Finance Initiative/Public-Private Partnerships (PFI/PPP); and second, budgets in public sector institutions. While PFI/PPP is a recent phenomenon, budgeting in the public sector is often regarded as the fundamental element of financial management in public services. This paper explores whether there are differences in motivation in research in these different aspects of public sector accounting.