I principi contabili internazionali sul consolidato pubblico all’indomani del Framework IPSASB. Una lettura critica

In the past years Public Services have been arranged through highly diversified and decentralized entities as a consequence of NPM reforms. This is why consolidated financial statements has become increasingly important over the time, specially since the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) n. 6, 7 and 8 in 2006. In 2014, the International Public Sector Accounting Board (IPSASB) published its own framework, different from International Accounting Standard Board’s (IASB) one, with the aim of taking into account the distinctive features and characteristics of the public administration. The standardization on the consolidated financial statements have therefore been modified with the approval of IPSASs n. 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38. The present contribution provides a critical reading of the mentioned reform process, highlighting, in particular, the inconsistencies between the framework and the related IPSAS as well as possible gaps. Results show that a series of issues remain unresolved, in some case even worse, especially those related to the information transparency and decision-making processes. Results are relevant for practitioners as well as for European standard setters, since they highlight the need to carefully consider both the information needs of stakeholders and the characteristics of public administration when deciding upon the European Accounting Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSASs).