Rethinking the going concern assumption as a pre–condition for accounting measurement

Abstract

This study compares the principles of the going concern concept against the principles of representational measurement to determine if it is possible to establish foundations of accounting measurement with the going concern concept as a precondition. Representational measurement theory is a theory that establishes measurement in social scientific disciplines such as accounting. The going concern assumption is prescribed as one of the preconditions for measuring the attributes of the elements of the financial statements of an entity that is expected to continue in business for the foreseeable future. Studies in accounting measurement have so far not succeeded in establishing foundations of measurements under going concern. The findings of this study suggest that the going concern assumption is anti-measurement in nature. Consequently, the findings suggest that financial statements be prepared on a basis that distinguishes quantifications produced under conditions that facilitate accounting measurement from those that do not.