
Accounting identity is a fundamental concept in economics that states that the sum of a company's assets is equal to the sum of its liabilities and equity. This equation is often represented as A = L + E.
In other words, a company's assets are the resources it owns or controls, while its liabilities are the debts it owes to others. Equity, on the other hand, represents the ownership interest in the company, which is the residual claim on its assets after deducting liabilities.
The accounting identity is a tautology, meaning it's a statement that's always true by definition. It's not a discovery or a prediction, but rather a way to express the fundamental relationship between a company's assets, liabilities, and equity.
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What is Accounting Identity
Accounting identity is a fundamental concept in accounting that ensures the balance sheet balances. The most basic identity in accounting is that assets must equal the sum of liabilities and equity.
The accounting equation, Assets = Liabilities + Equity, is the most common formulation of this identity. This equation is a mathematical identity that defines an equivalence that doesn't depend on the particular values of the variables.
Every transaction in accounting is recorded by paired entries, a concept known as double-entry bookkeeping. This means that every transaction results in two or more pairs of entries, such as a receipt of cash and a reduction in inventory.
The sale of a product, for example, would record both a receipt of cash and a reduction in inventory. The receipt of cash is an addition to revenue, and the reduction in inventory is an addition to expense. These paired entries ensure that the accounting equation remains balanced.
Double-entry bookkeeping conventions are also employed in the National Accounts, where economic concepts such as national product and balance of payments are measured using accounting identities. These identities recognize that every purchase is also a sale, and every payment made translates to income received.
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Types of Accounting Identity
Accounting identity is a fundamental concept in economics that helps us understand how different components of the economy relate to each other.
There are two main types of accounting identity: the closed economy identity and the investment-savings identity.
The closed economy identity shows that investment (I) is equal to the remainder of aggregate output (Y) after subtracting consumption by individuals (C) and government (G). This means that the leftover amount from total production is used for investment.
The investment-savings identity is a key concept in economics, stating that investment is equal to private saving plus public saving. This means that investment is funded by individuals saving money and governments saving through taxes minus government spending.
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Inter-Period Identities
Inter-Period Identities are an essential aspect of accounting, where identities apply between accounting periods. This means that changes in certain financial metrics can be tracked and analyzed over time.
The Du Pont Identity is a classic example of an inter-period identity, which breaks down a company's return on equity (ROE) into three key components: profit margin, asset turnover, and financial leverage.

Changes in cash balances are another example of an inter-period identity, where an increase in cash can indicate a company's ability to generate cash from its operations.
These identities help accountants and analysts identify trends and patterns in a company's financial performance over time. By analyzing these identities, you can gain a deeper understanding of a company's strengths and weaknesses, and make more informed decisions.
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Closed Economy Identity
In a closed economy, the identity of I=Y−C−G holds true. This equation shows that investment (I) is equal to the remainder of aggregate output (Y) after subtracting consumption by individuals (C) and government (G).
The identity can be further broken down into two separate equations. The first equation, S=Y−T−C, shows that saving (S) is equal to disposable income (Y−T) minus consumption (C). The second equation, I=S+(T−G), reveals that investment (I) is equal to private saving (S) plus public saving (T−G).
Investment and savings are closely linked, and the investment-savings theory is based on the idea that investment is equal to savings. This theory is a fundamental concept in economics.
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Economic Concepts
In economics, accounting identities play a crucial role in understanding various concepts.
In economics, there are numerous accounting identities. One such identity is the relationship between income and spending, which is a fundamental concept in economics.
Accounting identities in economics are often used to describe the equality between different economic variables.
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Economics
In economics, there are numerous accounting identities.
These identities are essential for understanding the relationships between different economic variables.
One key accounting identity is the national income identity, which states that the sum of household income, business income, and government income is equal to the total national income.
This identity helps economists track changes in the economy and make informed decisions.
The concept of scarcity is also fundamental in economics, as it refers to the idea that resources are limited, and making choices requires trade-offs.
Scarcity is a universal phenomenon that affects individuals, businesses, and governments alike.
In economics, the concept of opportunity cost is closely related to scarcity, as it represents the value of the next best alternative that is given up when a choice is made.
Opportunity cost is a crucial consideration in decision-making, whether it's a personal or business decision.
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Balance of Payments
The balance of payments is a fundamental concept in economics that can be tricky to grasp. It's essentially a record of all international transactions between a country and the rest of the world over a specific period of time.
A common problem with the balance of payments is that it may not total correctly due to measurement error, which means that the sum of all countries' current accounts may not be zero. This is because of statistical errors and omissions.
The basic equation for gross domestic product is also an identity, which means it's a true statement that always holds. It's sometimes referred to as the National Income Identity.
Investment refers to the sum of intended and unintended investment, the latter being unintended accumulations of inventories.
Using Accounting Identity
Accounting identity is a fundamental concept in accounting that helps us understand the relationship between different types of accounts.
A business's equity is equal to its assets minus its liabilities, which is a key aspect of the accounting identity.
Investment and Accounting Identity
Investment can be both intended and unintended, with the latter being the accumulation of inventories.
In accounting, the distinction between intended and unintended investment is crucial because it affects the interpretation of equations.
If total investment includes unintended accumulation of inventories, the equations are identities that automatically hold by definition, regardless of exogenous variables.
However, if total investment is redefined as only intended investment, the equations are no longer identities but rather statements of equilibrium in the goods market.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic accounting identity?
The basic accounting identity is that assets must equal the sum of liabilities and equity, as stated in the accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity. This fundamental concept ensures that a company's financial statements are balanced and accurate.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accounting_identity
- https://learning-accounting.yale.edu/basics-accounting/20-accounting-identity
- https://docs.infor.com/m3udi/16.x/en-us/m3beud/finaccths/crs632.html
- https://www.economicforces.xyz/p/never-reason-from-an-accounting-identity
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_identity
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