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- The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, and their integration into the accounting profession, calls for the need for accounting education to evolve, particularly in developing economies like South Africa, where unique socio-economic challenges, economic disparities, and regulatory pressures significantly impact digital transformation. This study explores how integrating AI and data analytics into accounting education curricula can equip students with future-ready skills, capturing the regulatory pressures, unique socio-economic, and digital challenges. Leveraging a mixed-method approach, the study combines a survey of accounting educators and students from different universities across South Africa, case study analysis of innovative institutions' curricula, and semi-structured interviews with SAICA representatives and industry leaders. The findings indicate that less than 35% of South African curricula incorporate AI and data analytics, resulting in a skill gap of over 45% among graduates in specific areas, such as predictive modelling and the ethical use of AI. However, the research reveals that programs with integrated modules show enhanced student employability by over 30% and increased regulatory compliance awareness by over 25%. The study recommends a contextualized framework for curriculum reform to align with SAICA’s competency framework, capturing the gap and ensuring future relevance for chartered accountants (CA). The framework emphasizes a hybrid learning approach, partnering with tech firms to support SAICA’s objectives. The study contributes to both academic and practical discourse by providing a tailored model for AI integration in accounting education and a mandatory AI ethics module, promoting the ethical use of digital skills
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- The rapid growth and adoption of decentralized digital currencies have disrupted the global financial systems, posing significant challenges for regulatory frameworks, particularly in taxation. As cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, continue to rise, tax authorities face difficulties in applying traditional tax laws, resulting in confusion and uncertainty, especially regarding Value-Added Tax (VAT). This study explores the VAT implications of cryptocurrency transactions in South Africa, complemented by a comparative analysis of other jurisdictions – Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and Singapore. Leveraging a qualitative methodology, the study reviews regulatory frameworks such as tax regulations and court rulings to explore the classification of cryptocurrencies for VAT purposes – money, goods, or services. The results show significant jurisdiction disparities – some jurisdictions classify cryptocurrencies as a financial service, exempt from VAT, while other countries classify cryptocurrencies as taxable supplies. The absence of a clear and concise definition of cryptocurrencies creates uncertainties, compounded by the risk of tax evasion due to the nature of cryptocurrency (i.e., anonymity). The study suggests that classifying cryptocurrencies as money could minimise VAT administration complexities and proposes technological tools like blockchain analytics to enhance compliance. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers to adapt South Africa's VAT system, aligning with the growing prevalence of cryptocurrencies.
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- Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting global labour markets, providing both opportunities and challenges. Although AI offers various opportunities in the labour market, such as automating routine tasks, improving productivity, and creating new jobs, its utilization also poses threats and challenges, including worker displacement and exacerbating inequality. Hence, this article explores the economic impact of AI within the context of employment, wages, and skills, while simultaneously focusing on the opportunities brought by AI, such as innovation in the labour markets. The study follows a mixed-method approach, combining econometric analysis of employment data across OECD countries, case study analysis of industries adopting AI, such as manufacturing and healthcare. In the automated sectors, findings reveal that the integration of AI into the production process has increased productivity by over 15%, creating new job opportunities in AI-driven fields; however, job displacement increased significantly as a result, particularly for low-skilled workers, while wage inequality increased by 8%. This study proposes a framework for balancing innovation brought by AI with social costs, putting more emphasis on workers to acquire tech-driven skills for economic relevance and policymakers to ensure inclusivity. The study contributes significantly to the academic discourse by addressing policy gaps and measuring AI’s labour market effects. Practically, the study recommends investment in tech driven skills, universal basic income (UBI) pilots, and development of AI governance frameworks.
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- Amidst a rapidly changing economy, Activity-Based Costing (ABC) has evolved with digital technologies, enhancing the strategic decision-making process through accurate cost allocation in management accounting. This study examines how digital technologies, such as big data and cloud computing, enhance the effectiveness of ABC in supporting competitive strategies, increasing profitability, and optimizing resource allocation. Leveraging a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative analysis, case study analysis, and interviews. The quantitative analysis encompasses the adoption of ABC in manufacturing firms, while case study analysis focuses on the implementation of ABC and interviews with management accountants regarding the integration of ABC into strategic decision-making. The findings reveal improved accuracy with digital ABC systems, reducing accuracy errors by at least 25%, while the strategic decision-making process is increased by 40% and the profitability of the firms increased by 25%. However, despite the perceived benefits, high implementation costs and lack of specific skills persist, hindering the adoption. The study proposes a framework for synthesizing the integration of digital technologies, ABC, and strategic management, emphasising innovation and training. The study contributes to academic discourse by measuring the impact of digital ABC in strategic decision-making and capturing adoption challenges.
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- The emergence of cryptocurrencies as a financial innovation has changed the financial industry and the accounting processes in recent years. The primary aim of this study was to discuss the possible treatment of cryptocurrencies in the context of accounting and taxation. Whilst a significant effort has been made to address the uncertainty of accounting and tax treatment of cryptocurrencies, the study also builds on existing knowledge; little is known about cryptocurrencies and the related implications. The study followed a qualitative approach and used paper analysis to achieve the primary objective. The paper analysis included a systematic review of papers. The study focused on the paper analysis of existing data to refine a conceptual framework. It was found that because of the volatility of cryptocurrencies, the existing measurement models, which are the cost model and fair value model, do not cater to cryptocurrencies. This study addressed the gap between financial information and regulations. These fintech advances do not merely challenge the monetary system but also the regulatory system.
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- While the TOE framework emphasizes contextual domains such as technological readiness, organizational capabilities, and environmental pressures, the DOI theory focuses on innovation attributes and the diffusion process. The study advances a holistic framework that synthesizes these perspectives, linking why organizations adopt AI with how innovation diffuses across social and institutional systems. This study revisits and integrates these two foundational models to develop a cohesive theoretical lens for understanding AI adoption in underdeveloped economies. The study adopted a conceptual and theoretical review design and employed a structured literature review and thematic synthesis to identify patterns, overlaps, and gaps in TOE-DOI-based research. The study revealed that integrating DOI’s innovation characteristics with TOE’s contextual determinants enhances the explanatory power for AI adoption, particularly in a limited resources context. The integrated multi theoretical lens addresses the constraints of each theory, embedding behavioural, structural, and institutional dimensions often overlooked in fragmented model studies. The study contributes to the theoretical discourse by proposing a multi-level context framework for AI adoption. Practically, it provides policymakers and managers with guidance aligning innovation perception with organizational readiness and external pressure.
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