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Full Cost Accounting

A Course Module on Incorporating Environmental and Social Costs into Traditional Business Accounting Systems

Noellette Conway-Schempf, Ph.D. Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA 15213

1

Overview:
This module describes methods for incorporating environmental information into accounting management information systems to allow financial decision makers to include environmental criteria in their decisions. The module is subdivided to permit a progression of detail concerning accounting systems and their role in encouraging the design and development, marketing, and use of more environmentally-conscious products, services, and manufacturing processes.

The module is suitable for use as part of an engineering or business environmental management course, at either the undergraduate or graduate level, through the selection of various components of the module. Thus for example, in an MBA course, the early material on types of accounting systems would be unnecessary, or in an engineering environmental management course, more emphasis could be placed on the managerial/cost accounting section than on the national accounting section.

The module is subdivided as follows: 1) Introduction

 

What is accounting? Relevance of accounting and capital budgeting to environmental management and engineering issues

  

Types of accounting systems Shortcomings of accounting systems as environmental information systems Full cost accounting

2) Incorporating social and environmental costs into accounting systems:   National accounts Financial accounts

2



Cost accounting systems and capital budgeting

3) Valuing the environment

4) The ultimate goal – full cost pricing

5) Difficulties associated with full cost accounting

6) Additional teaching resources available   Case studies Readings

Appendix 1: Example

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