"Present troubles, and more to come" -- The invention of the accounting standard -- Honeymoon period: 1970 - 1974 -- Accounting for changing prices: the struggle begins -- The holy grail -- The going gets tougher: 1975 - 1979 -- Reforming the system -- The art of the possible: 1980 - 1984 -- Accounting for changing prices: the struggle continues - and ends badly -- Losing steam: 1985 - 1990 -- Setting accountingstandards 1969 - 1990: technical and political realms -- Appendices -- Sources -- Statement of intent on accountingstandards in the 1970's -- Extracts from the Watts Report -- Chairmen of the AccountingStandards Committee -- Secretaries to the AccountingStandards Committee -- Members of the AccountingStandards Committee -- Statements of standard accounting practice issued -- Exposure drafts issued -- Submissions on exposure drafts -- Bibliography -- Index