| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 會計學系研究所 === 86 === This study intended to provide an insightful discussion and in-depth understan
ding of measurement focus and financial reporting in governmental accounting.
Two fundamental concepts that provide the foundation for an accounting model
are the measurement focus and the basis of accounting. Measurement focus dete
rmines what financial statements are trying to communicate. Generally speaking
, there are three types of measurement focus, i.e.,（1）Flow of current financ
ial resources（2）Flow of total financial resources（3）Flow of economic resou
rces. This study examines the current practice of annual financial reporting in
our national government and pinpoints some of the most important issues and pr
oblems. Traditionally governmental accounting model focuses on the measurement
of current assets and current liability. Noncurrent assets and liabilities, h
owever, begin to account for a material element of governments'' financial pict
ure. Nevertheless, the accounts for entity have been segregated into funds tha
t have never been aggregated to obtain a report for the entity
as a whole. The major drawbacks of fund accounting include
fragmentation of financial management functions, lack of
articulation among the statements, artificial yearly balances,
extended lags in consolidation of accounts, and so forth.
Therefore, the study attempts to provide the direction
preventing from confusion and enhancing clarity. The proposed
financial stateme
nts which are designed to make governments'' general purpose and external finan
cial reports easier to understand are meant to be more useful to the citizen g
roups, legislative and oversight officials, and investors and creditors. Conse
quently, the proposed governmental reporting model brings about requirements f
or the adoption of the following items to financial reports:（1）Management''s
discussion and analysis.（2）Basic financial statements from both an entity-wi
de perspective and a fund perspective.Governmental accounting and reporting is
sues are so diverse and complex that it takes much time and great efforts to a
nalyze the conceptual issues and to develop a broad understanding of governmen
tal entities. Finally, some suggestions to improve the quality of financial re
porting are provided as well.
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