Triple Accounting is a research and concept in accounting in research by Michel de Kemmeter that aims to add Emotional Balance and Knowledge Balance to traditional balance sheets in business, enabling wider view of value in companies. These are made near to official accountings and are not recognized by tax authorities. It is an approach to assess intangible assets and liabilities.
The concept of Triple Accounting comprises three levels: personal, corporate and global systems (countries, regions). The first intends to assess knowledge, emotional and material assets of individuals; the second seeks for the traditional accounting and assessment of immaterial assets of companies; and the last, for achieving national or regional assessment of assets and liabilities.
In general, the equations defined by Triple Accounting research are:
Immaterial or intangible liabilities can be considered as badwill, but are a potential to create value. The concept of Triple Accounting can be linked to the idea of the "three H": "(...) All of the three H need to be combined. For a full and ethic use of Human Resource with a big H, that implies to taking into account the three H of each individual: Hands, Head and Heart." (Gendron, 2004, p. 31). Intangible liabilities, often taboo in a company, get to be considered as company's potential - as well as bank loans are a potential to create added value in business activities. Emotional liabilities - as for example demotivation or internal human resources problems - are oportunities to create value for people involved. Knowledge liabilities - like for example evolution of business models or technology - are a drive to empower people's creativity to create new added value with new knowkedge and the model says it isn't should be considered as negative, instead as human potential to improve the company around common vision. It relates to Immaterialism and responds to evaluation challenges of Knowledge economy.
The concept of Triple Accounting is being developed to support another two balance sheets related to corporate social responsability to common good and corporate sustainability, for measurement of ambiental impact of the business. It will also relate to the "earth balance sheet", the negative impact of the company on the environment, and the positive contribution or compensation. This connects to triple bottom line and sustainable development. Implications of new models like Copyleft in the knowledge economy will impact evaluation of a company.