Empirical Budgeting Research in Accounting Journals: Review, Critique, and Research Agenda

This systematic literature review examines 59 empirical studies on budgeting published between 2003 and 2023 in high-calibre accounting journals. It identifies three dominant themes: participative budgeting, budgetary slack, and Beyond Budgeting. While participative budgeting and slack studies focus on traditional issues, Beyond Budgeting research addresses practitioners’ concerns more directly. The review highlights significant gaps in linking academic research to real-world challenges, particularly regarding strategic relevance and flexibility. A research agenda is proposed to align future studies with practitioners’ concerns. This review contributes by mapping budgeting research development and critically assessing its practical impact.