Search results

This study aims to examine the association between board characteristics (namely, diligence, independence, gender diversity, size and expertise) and sustainability-related disclosures (SRD) in Malaysia.

A robust SRD index of 409 items is used to derive SRD scores for 56 Malaysian listed companies from 2018 to 2020, yielding 168 observations. Pooled ordinary least squares is applied to test the research hypotheses and model.

The authors find that board members in audit committees and female board members show a significant relationship with SRD, casting doubt on the widely held belief that other board characteristics (such as size, diligence, independence and expertise) independently impact SRD. However, the authors find that market influence (firm value) and firm size are associated with SRD.

SRD is at its nascent stage, and companies are cherry-picking on what to report, as evidenced in the SRD scores. Regulators and policymakers must recognize the complex interplay between various factors impacting SRD for the timely issuance of comprehensive rules for firms to comply. The regulators’ drive for more female board representation can be a boost to enhance the sustainability agenda for Malaysian listed companies. The SRD scoring template can be used on post-2020 data to investigate the sustainability maturity of Malaysian listed companies.

The authors evidence that SRD practice is in the early stages of maturity using the comprehensive SRD scoring template. Although the findings contradict prior studies, the authors believe this is driven by the robust SRD measure based on the latest Global Reporting Initiative and Bursa rules.

This paper aims to investigate the potential mediating effect of environmental disclosure on the relationship between corporate governance and the disclosure of social information by disaggregating Bloomberg ESG (Environmental-Social-Governance) scores. The polluting level of a company is examined for its potential moderating effect.

The focus is on the S&P 500. A structural equation model (SEM) is proposed that considers the effects of governance board constructs on the voluntary disclosure of social information (S-score) mediated by the voluntary disclosure of environmental information (E-score). The model is fit separately for two groups of companies (high-polluting and low-polluting), and the path coefficients are compared.

Consistent with prior research, board independence, gender diversity, and size positively impact voluntary environmental disclosure; board age is found to have a significant but negative effect. The estimated path coefficient from E-score to S-score is strong, positive, and significant; environmental disclosure fully mediates the relationship between corporate governance and social disclosure. This path coefficient is significantly greater for those companies in the high-polluting group.

The findings indicate that high-polluting companies may engage in increased voluntary disclosure of social information as reputation insurance. E-score fully mediates the relationship between corporate governance and S-score more strongly for high-polluting companies, suggesting this group is more likely to engage in and report on socially responsible behaviors to deflect attention away from environmental performance (i.e. greendeflecting).

This paper aims to examine the effect of dividend policy on firm value for financial sector in an emerging country. Furthermore, it examines the moderating effect of IFRS adoption and the abolishment of mandatory dividend payment policy with considering the Lintner model of dividend smoothing.

Data were collected from 111 firms listed on Borsa Istanbul in the financial sector in Turkey over 1995–2017. Using an explanatory research design, this study performs various multivariate regression techniques to investigate the proposed relationships.

The outcomes demonstrate a positive and significant association between dividend policy and firm value. In addition, the relationship has strengthened after IFRS adoption, indicating that accounting information such as dividend-based ratios prepared under IFRS is more value relevant. The empirical outcomes supported the Lintner model, which is persistent with the signalling hypothesis. Moreover, the findings state that the abolishment of mandatory dividend payment in 2009 strengthened the association between dividend policy and firm value for financial institutions in Turkey.

These results provide an insight to the investors and managers that the effect of IFRS adoption and other policy changes could be greater on the association between dividend policy and firm value. The study empirically tests Lintner model of dividend smoothing for financial firms in an emerging economy.

This study contributes to the literature through providing vital insights on the relationship between dividend policy and firm value and empirically revisiting the Lintner model for financial sector in a developing economy, specifically Turkey. Furthermore, it addresses the influence of IFRS implementation on the association between dividend policy and firm value. These findings are robust to alternative sampling methods and to controlling for other factors which influence firm value.