The Role of Accounting in the Financial Crisis:
Lessons for the Future
I. Introduction
The Great Recession that started in 2008 has had significant effects on the US and global
economy; estimates of the amount of US wealth lost are approximately $14 trillion (Luhby
2009). Various causes of the financial crisis have been cited, including lax regulation over
mortgage lending, a growing housing bubble, the rise of derivatives instruments such as
collaterized debt obligations, and questionable banking practices. In addition to these and many
other reasons, we explain two factors that partially contributed to the crisis: certain management
incentives and fair value accounting standards. This article discusses the causes of the financial
crisis, with particular focus on the debated role of the relevant US accounting standards, and
summarizes implications for accountants and accounting regulators based on the effect of these
existing rules.