Determinants of Sustainability E-Reporting in Portuguese Municipalities: An Institutional and Legitimacy Theoretical Framework

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the extent of online social responsibility (SR) information disclosure by Portuguese municipalities and to identify related determinant factors, based on Institutional Theory and Legitimacy Theories.

A content analysis was performed on webpages from 60 sampled municipalities, and an information disclosure index was created.

Descriptive statistics obtained indicate the Total Disclosure Index (TDI) value was 0.46. The Economic Information sub-category exhibits the highest value (0.66), followed by the Social and Environmental Information categories (0.61 and 0.36, respectively).

The multivariate analysis results indicate that LA21 implementation the existence of tax burdens, the characterisation of a municipality as urban and environmental/SR certification application positively influence SR information disclosure. TDI is negatively affected by the existence of an inactive population (i.e. by the percentage of individuals ≤19 and ≥65 years of age).

Citation

Ribeiro, V.P.L., da Silva Monteiro, S.M. and de Abreu e Moura, A.M. (2016), "Determinants of Sustainability E-Reporting in Portuguese Municipalities: An Institutional and Legitimacy Theoretical Framework", Corporate Responsibility and Stakeholding (Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility, Vol. 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 131-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2043-052320160000010011