Abstract
RECENT COLLAPSES OF HIGH PROFILE BUSINESS FAILURES LIKE ENRON, WORLDCOM, PARMLAT, AND TYCO HAS BEEN A SUBJECT OF GREAT DEBATE AMONG REGULATORS, INVESTORS, GOVERNMENT AND ACADEMICS IN THE RECENT PAST. ENRON'S CASE WAS THE GREATEST FAILURE IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN CAPITALISM AND HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON FINANCIAL MARKETS BY CAUSING SIGNIFICANT LOSSES TO INVESTORS. ENRON WAS A COMPANY RANKED BY FORTUNE AS THE MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES; IT EXEMPLIFIED THE TRANSITION FROM THE PRODUCTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY. MANY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM ITS COLLAPSE. IN THIS PAPER WE PRESENT AN ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO ENRON'S RISE AND FAILURE, UNDERLYING THE ROLE THAT ENERGY DEREGULATION AND MANIPULATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PLAYED ON ENRON'S DEMISE. WE SUMMARIZE SOME LESSONS THAT CAN BE LEARNED IN ORDER TO PREVENT ANOTHER ENRON AND RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS, AS WELL AS IN THE ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING PROFESSIONS.© 2018, Facultad de Contaduría y Administración, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. All rights reserved. Publication of the article implies full assignment of property rights (copyright) in Journal of Contaduría y Administración. The publication mreserves the right to total or partial reproduction of the work in other print, electronic or any other alternative means, but always recognizing its responsibility.
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