For much of its development period, accounting consisted mostly of recording business transactions, keeping track of income, expenses, and major assets. The information prepared was adequate for the decisions made then. As economies progressed and the environment presented new challenges and opportunities, decision makers needed more information. The accounting profession responded by branching out into specific areas of interest, developing new tools and techniques, demanding further training and expertise. Several branches and other fields of accounting emerged, and new certifications attested to these special qualifications and expertise.