Ecological anthropology and sociology applications to accounting education and practice

Abstract

Purpose: The ecological framework in anthropology and sociology is an integrated approach that studies sustainability within the broader context of the environment, business and society. The framework is applied to study the integration of sustainability into the accounting curriculum. Approach: The paper has integrated ecological ethics and land ethics from ecological anthropology, and the resources-based approach from organisational ecology-sociology to study the integration of sustainability into the accounting curriculum. Findings: Ecological anthropology has examined how cultural and social forces have evolved in ecological and land ethics in business education. Organisational ecology has related the resource-based transaction cost approach for the integration of sustainability into the accounting curriculum. Originality/Value: Ecological anthropology and organisational sociology disciplines have been concerned with sustainability, environmental management, and conservation of natural resources for many years. These issues have now become the cornerstones in sustainability education in the accounting curriculum and professional practice. Keywords: Ecological Anthropology; Organisational; Sociology; Accounting; Sustainability.