This course aims to provide students with a critical awareness of financial reporting environment and the role of accounting information in the efficient working of economy. It covers important economics and accounting concepts and theories, and contemporary accounting and finance studies testing these theories. The course addresses in detail how financial reporting practices have been shaped by the information needs and interests of major constituencies, and how the standard setting bodies reconcile the conflicting interests of major constituencies in formulating accounting standards. Building on above contents, this course enables practical applications of the theories/concepts in assessing, explaining, and predicting accounting choices. It is expected that students should understand not only the theoretical foundation of accounting policy and practices but also the development of accounting research in general.