Accounting Practices and Corruption Governance in Developing Economies
Summary
Developing economies face persistent challenges of opaque financial reporting, weak institutional oversight and endemic corruption. Accounting practices in these contexts encompass public-sector budgetary controls, corporate auditing standards and legal frameworks that mandate transparency. Effective governance emerges from the interplay of institutional capacity, where regulatory bodies monitor disclosures and enforce sanctions, and technological adoption such as integrated financial management information systems that streamline data collection and reporting. Theoretical frameworks including principal–agent theory explain how misaligned incentives between public officials and citizens can enable rent-seeking, while institutional theory highlights the role of formal laws and informal norms in shaping ethical behaviour. Recent shifts towards e-governance, risk-based auditing and standardised financial disclosure aim to close loopholes that facilitate embezzlement and bribery. Cross-country comparisons reveal that tailored reforms—ranging from strengthened internal audit functions to community-driven accountability forums—have yielded improvements in transparency and public trust. By integrating advances in digital infrastructure, capacity building and legal reform, emerging economies can bolster resilience against corrupt practices and foster sustainable development.
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Accounting Practices and Corruption Governance in Developing Economies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in accounting practices and corruption governance in developing economies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Financial disclosure: public reporting of assets and interests to deter conflicts of interest and improve transparency.
Institutional capacity: the ability of legal and regulatory bodies to enforce rules, conduct audits and impose sanctions effectively.
Principal–agent theory: a conceptual model that examines conflicts of interest between those who delegate authority (principals) and those who exercise it (agents).
Integrated financial management information system: a centralised digital platform for planning, budgeting, accounting and reporting in the public sector.
References
- Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Laws in Developing Countries. International Journal of Law and Policy (2024).
- Ghana integrated financial management information system and public sector accountability. Cogent Business & Management (2025).
- Anti‐Mafia Police Actions, Criminal Firms, and Peer Firm Tax Avoidance. Journal of Accounting Research (2022).
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