Accounting for goodwill: reflections historical, conceptual and comparative review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21680/2176-9036.2024v16n1ID31541

Keywords:

Goodwill. Ensaio. Revisão Histórica. Conceitual. Comparativa.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose is cause reflections from a historical, conceptual and comparative review on goodwill in one hundred years of accounting theory, considered a difficult topic yet with the theoretical and normative evolution.

Methodology: Essay theoretical produced from an integrative qualitative review of the literature. It presents the theoretical evolution and challenges observed by theorists and regulators since the seminal study “Accounting Theory” by William Paton (1922).

Results: The relevance attributed to goodwill goes far beyond the concepts and criteria for recognition and measurement. Its interpretation and processing are influenced by cognitive aspects, economic interests, and in moment of economic crises, debates on the topic are intensified, motivated by concerneds of stakeholders, regulators and theorists same in one hundred years of evolution. So, the future of goodwill is undefined.

Contributions of the Study: The historical and comparative analysis, limited in the choice of the references on the subject, contributes to confirm the subjectivity and absence of conceptual, normative and practical consensus for goodwill, thus there aren´t right or wrong between theorists and regulators, in this sense. The scenario of high volatility in the capital markets during to the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, arise new theoretical discussions about the quantum and multidisciplinary dimension and the possible return of accounting practices used in the past. Therefore, the relevance of goodwill requires that not only regulators establish rules, but that theoretical and practical ethically contribute to the debate. 

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Author Biographies

João Eudes de Souza Calado, Universidade de Brasília - UnB

Doutorando em Ciência Contábeis, vinculado ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Contábeis - PPGCONT da Universidade de Brasília-UnB.

José Matias-Pereira, Universidade de Brasília - UnB

Pós-Doutor em Administração, Doutor em Ciências Políticas, Professor de Administração Pública e Finanças Públicas, Pesquisador Sênior do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Contábeis-PPGCONT da Universidade de Brasília-UnB, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasília-DF, (61) 3107-0812

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Published

02-01-2024

How to Cite

CALADO, J. E. de S.; MATIAS-PEREIRA, J. Accounting for goodwill: reflections historical, conceptual and comparative review. REVISTA AMBIENTE CONTÁBIL - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, [S. l.], v. 16, n. 1, p. 71–88, 2024. DOI: 10.21680/2176-9036.2024v16n1ID31541. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufrn.br/ambiente/article/view/31541. Acesso em: 22 dec. 2024.

Issue

Section

Section 1: Accounting Applied to the Business Sector (S1)