Social responsibility and accounting: A possible binomial

The main objective of our research is to give some evidence, from a conceptual approach, about the possibility of contributing to the social responsibility development, starting from accounting. Different authors agree that there is a rising need for developing a suitable conceptual framework, which gives information companies should provide in relation to their behavior towards the environment. However, this work intends, not only to analyze the reflection of the companies' behavior in financial information, but also to show how a new accounting framework could facilitate progress in the social responsibility of companies. The paper shows that it is absolutely necessary that accounting defines the way of calculating the results of the company, taking into account the social and economical approach. A key question is a more complete definition of the matching principle, and also to put forward the new requirements for information in relation to the new approach. © International Atlantic Economic Society 2006.