Voluntary disclosure in a nineteenth century American corporation: The demise of managerial information as a significant element of financial reporting

Authors

Rodney R. Michael

Publication Date

1996

Abstract

In a report issued in 1994, the Jenkins Committee advocated the integration of managerial statistics, which could be used to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of a firm's management, into financial statements. This study traces the development, and subsequent demise, of similar managerial information within the financial statements of the Quincy Mining Company in the nineteenth century. Two contemporary models for financial disclosure are developed for comparative purposes and it is concluded that the Quincy Mining Company intentionally restricted the information available to shareholders. By clarifying the disclosure practices of a single firm in an unregulated environment, this study provides insights to the origins of modern financial reporting.

Recommended Citation

Michael, Rodney R. (1996) "Voluntary disclosure in a nineteenth century American corporation: The demise of managerial information as a significant element of financial reporting," Accounting Historians Journal: Vol. 23: Iss. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/aah_journal/vol23/iss2/2