Introduction to the development of new public financial management scholarship: from global warning to emerging warnings

Purpose In this paper, we analyse contributions to the book Global Warning: Debating Developments in New Public Financial Management , published by Olson et al . (1998). We also critique and overview the six papers in this Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management (JPBAFM) Symposium on Global Warning: Debating International Developments in New Public Financial Management after 25 Years. We briefly outline the themes, contexts, methods and impacts discussed in each paper. Additionally, we identify the research that has already been established in the field and point to worthwhile future research areas. Design/methodology/approach This is a literature review of previous articles on the global warming project and research papers published in this JPBAFM Symposium. Findings Research interest in new public financial management (NPFM) has grown over the past 25 years, consistent with the rise of neoliberalism and new public management (NPM). Over this period, practices in NPM and NPFM have emerged as dominant forces in the public sectors of many countries. The rise of this paradigm is consistent with shifts in the public sector towards neoliberal philosophies and technologies. Moreover, case studies on the impacts of NPFM have not dwindled over the past 3 decades. Instead, they have evolved into exposés of the more strident accounting, auditing and accountability practices, as well as unintended consequences associated with NPFM and the significant negative implications for the public sector, public services and civil society. Research limitations/implications The six articles in the symposium fill the gap in addressing questions of – for what? For whom? And where? – by exploring the multiple topics, actors and contexts involved in accounting, auditing and accountability practices in the public sector. Originality/value This paper also identifies the need to increase trust, transparency and stakeholder dialogue to overcome contemporary and future warnings associated with sustainability, digitalisation and hybridisation issues that could have significant negative implications for the public sector, public services and civil society.