Direct costing vs. absorption costing: A historical review

Various accounting practices, based on the same accounting concepts and principles, have been developed to satisfy the multiple and changing needs of the users of accounting reports. Direct and absorption costing are two such accounting practices. Controversy continues to exist as to which of these two costing methods is better for decision making purposes and for reporting to the users of accounting information. The objective of this paper is to dwell upon the historical nature of the controversy and build a case for a method of costing that rests on economic logic and realities of the market place