Peter Cappelli’s argument in “How a Common Accounting Rule Leads to More Layoffs and Less Job Training” (Journal Report, July 31) is like the argument that a hammer is the cause of bad construction. Accounting is a tool used to communicate some relatively reliable and objective information to aid in decision-making, such as allocating capital. If management chooses to misuse the tool and underinvest in employees to boost current accounting earnings at the expense of future accounting earnings, then perhaps the problem lies with management. Like a hammer, accounting rules don’t think, and like a good carpenter, good managers do.

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Persons: Peter Cappelli’s