Public value and public sector accounting research : a structured literature review

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role and impact of accounting within the fragmented field of public value theory literature. Design/methodology/approach: The work develops a structured literature review (SLR) and seeks to shed light on the state of public value research, with particular emphasis on the role of accounting scholarship. Findings: The lack of empirical research and the limited number of accounting papers reveal how accounting scholars need to achieve a deeper understanding of the public value conceptualization, creation and measurement process. Originality/value: The paper develops the first wide-ranging SLR on public value accounting. It is a starting point to develop new research avenues, both in the fields of accountability/external reporting, and management accounting and performance management.