TY - JOUR

T1 - A Note on the Discounted Present Value Concept

AU - Peasnell, Ken

PY - 1977/1/31

Y1 - 1977/1/31

N2 - The discounted present value concept plays an important part in account- ing theory, often being viewed as the ideal concept of value. There Is, though, a school of thought which, while recognizing the importance of the concept in decision making, argues that the primary function of financial accounting is in the assessment of achieve- ments. It also argues that this indicates a need for ex-post measures which are con- ceptually distinct from discounted present value. This note complements their work by arguing that accountants do not have a comparative advantage in the determination of discounted present value for investors and that this task should be left to the stock market.

AB - The discounted present value concept plays an important part in account- ing theory, often being viewed as the ideal concept of value. There Is, though, a school of thought which, while recognizing the importance of the concept in decision making, argues that the primary function of financial accounting is in the assessment of achieve- ments. It also argues that this indicates a need for ex-post measures which are con- ceptually distinct from discounted present value. This note complements their work by arguing that accountants do not have a comparative advantage in the determination of discounted present value for investors and that this task should be left to the stock market.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 52

SP - 186

EP - 189

JO - The Accounting Review

JF - The Accounting Review

SN - 0001-4826

IS - 1

ER -