Dalla Contabilita’ Finanziaria Alla Contabilita’ Economico - Patrimoniale

The paper analyzes the accounting transition underway in Italian public administration, focusing on the shift from financial accounting to economic and assets accounting. This reform process, initiated in line with the principles of accounting harmonization introduced by Italian national legislation in line with European legislation, represents a structural change in the way public administrations record, represent, and interpret economic, financial, and asset-related events. It represents a significant step in the process of harmonizing Italian public accounting, seeking to respond to the need for greater alignment with European and international standards. Starting with accounting systems, the paper analyzes the history, with a specific analysis of the various accounting systems and the transition from the financial accounting system to the enhanced financial accounting system, focusing on the advantages and limitations, and on the needs that ultimately led to the transition to the economic-assets model, highlighting how it allows for a more complete, transparent, and truthful representation of the management performance of public entities. Unlike the financial model, which focuses solely on authorizing and managing expenditure and revenue in terms of cash or accruals, economic and financial accounting introduces more advanced reporting tools capable of measuring economic performance, the sustainability of public policies, and the correct allocation of resources over time. Furthermore, it not only improves the quality and reliability of the information available, but also constitutes a strategic tool for planning, control, and reporting in support of both local and central administrations and the institutional functions of the state. This report also focuses on the National Research Council, which, after years of being tied to the financial system, has been a key player in this transition and has implemented regulations specifically designed to support the shift to the economic-assets system, as well as on the office supporting this economic-accounting transition.