This is a mathematical formulation of double-entry bookkeeping.

What is it about?

Although it has been in use for over 5 centuries, there has never before been a mathematical characterization of double-entry bookkeeping. That is given in this paper for ordinary bookkeeping with non-negative scalars, and it is generalized elsewhere to vectors of property rights without any prices.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This formulation not only allows the generalization of DEB to vectors of property rights without prices, but it clears up some common mistakes in the accounting literature, e.g., just what is "double" about DEB.

Perspectives