Board characteristics and integrated reporting quality: evidence from ESG European companies
ISSN: 1450-2194
Article publication date: 17 May 2021
Issue publication date: 22 November 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to analyze the possible relationship between board characteristics and integrated reporting quality in an international setting.
Design/methodology/approach
To test the study's hypotheses, the authors applied linear regressions with a panel data, and the authors collected data from the Thomson Reuters database (ASSET4) and from the annual reports from European companies to analyze data of 253 listed companies selected from the environmental, social and governance (ESG) index between 2010 and 2019.
Findings
The reached empirical results prove to indicate well that both of the board size, independence and diversity appear to have a significantly positive effect on the integrated reporting quality. Noteworthy, also, is the fact that the appointment of an independent nonexecutive chairman is positively associated with the integrated reporting related quality, and holds for firms with a nonindependent chairman.
Practical implications
Beyond the theoretical implications, our study also has several practical implications. These findings are particularly relevant for managers, shareholders, and policymakers. Thus, stakeholders should consider the accuracy of disclosure in determining the optimal reporting strategy (reducing risk estimation, returns' stock volatility, increasing long-term shareholder value and reputation of the firm).
Originality/value
This article is motivated by the low number of works in the context about the corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues. It makes an important contribution to the academic literature by adding to the limited body of research on integrated reporting and corporate governance in an ESG company setting. The study is also important for practitioners seeking to improve the quality of their integrated reports.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the editor and the two anonymous referees of the EuroMed Journal of Business for their insightful comments that have greatly benefited the paper.
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Citation
Chouaibi, S., Chouaibi, Y. and Zouari, G. (2022), "Board characteristics and integrated reporting quality: evidence from ESG European companies", EuroMed Journal of Business, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 425-447. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-11-2020-0121
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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