Search results

1 – 10 of 45
Open Access
Article
Publication date: 17 February 2021

Sandro Brunelli, Camilla Falivena, Chiara Carlino and Francesco Venuti

The increasing responsibility of organisations towards society and the environment has inverted the relationship between accounting and accountability, leading to…

3563

Abstract

Purpose

The increasing responsibility of organisations towards society and the environment has inverted the relationship between accounting and accountability, leading to accountability-based accounting systems. This study aims to explore the debate on accountability for climate change within the integrating thinking (IT) perspective. Ascertaining the most significant trends in the debate around purposes and performance that characterise climate mitigation engagement and their connections, the study would explore if and to what extent organisations are tackling climate actions.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative review of the extensive academic literature developed from the Kyoto Protocol to date was performed. After selecting a representative sample, papers were analysed with the support of a new analytical framework that involves three dimensions – answerability, enforcement and outcome – and governance schemes that emerge from the involvement of the private and public sector and civil society. With the support of NVivo software, themes arisen were analysed and coded. Key items were labelled, creating specific nodes and synthesised into the proposed framework.

Findings

A “silo approach” largely characterises the debate on accountability for climate change. The most significant reasons behind the shortcomings of extant climate actions may be retrieved firstly in the weakness of the motivations that guide organisations to operate in a climate-friendly way.

Social implications

This study underlines the need for a 360° integrated approach for strategically tackling climate actions.

Originality/value

This study would represent a further step towards an integrated approach for studying organisations behaviours in the “climate war”, embracing the connectivity between purposes and outcomes, capitals and the relationships amongst the various stakeholders.

Details

Meditari Accountancy Research, vol. 29 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2049-372X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 September 2017

Kamal Eljayash

Over the past few decades, accounting research has received considerable attention from academics and researchers in an effort to understand and interpret accounting events in…

4740

Abstract

Purpose

Over the past few decades, accounting research has received considerable attention from academics and researchers in an effort to understand and interpret accounting events in firms. Environmental disclosure research is featured in those studies because of its effect on the number of groups within society where companies operate. Therefore, many studies, especially in developing countries, have been conducted in order to interpret and reach an understanding of the determinants of disclosure in companies through using accounting and social theories. In the Middle East and North Africa, a substantial number of accounting studies have been undertaken aimed at addressing the environmental disclosure in companies. The purpose of this paper is to examine these studies conducted in the Middle East and North Africa in order to establish an overview of the theoretical approach in the interpretation of the environmental disclosure in companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Review of studies of the environmental disclosure in the Gulf region and North Africa by focusing on a theoretical method that interpreted the environmental disclosure.

Findings

Studies have shown a difference in the theoretical interpretation of the environmental disclosure with emphasis on the theory of stakeholder, the most common in such studies.

Originality/value

The value of this study is to add to the accounting literature in this area which, thus, is considered as a starting point for future studies on the most important theories used in the interpretation of environmental disclosure in the Gulf region and North Africa.

Details

World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-5961

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 26 August 2014

M. Azizul Islam

495

Abstract

Details

Accounting Research Journal, vol. 27 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1030-9616

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 5 December 2018

Mahdi Salehi, Hossein Tarighi and Malihe Rezanezhad

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the relationship between some characteristics of corporations including firm size, financial leverage, profitability…

6527

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the relationship between some characteristics of corporations including firm size, financial leverage, profitability, firm age and the type of industry with social responsibility disclosure of firms listed on Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE); and second, to study the association between the level of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) and some of the audit variables such as audit fees, audit tenure and audit firm’ size.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population consists of 125 firms listed on the TSE during the years 2010–2015. Following Salehi et al. (2017), content analysis is used to measure the level of social responsibility disclosure, and hypotheses are performed using multiple regression analysis and R software.

Findings

The results represented that there is a positive significant relationship between a firm size and a firm age with the level of CSRD. However, there is a negative significant association between financial leverage and profitability with the level of CSRD. Given that CSRD is different among various industries and the type of industry can be an influential factor in CSRD, an industry type’ variable in the fourth hypothesis is of a type of index variable and has eight levels, of which the first level is ranked as the base level. Our findings showed that the level of CSRD at industries of machinery and appliances, production of metal products, food and beverage products, and textiles is lower than the baseline level (pharmacy). Nevertheless, companies in the fifth industry (mineral products) have a higher level of CSRD in comparison with the pharmacy industry. Moreover, the authors find that there is a significant positive connection between audit fees and CSRD. This implies that Iranian managers in an inflationary economy probably manage earnings when they provide more CSRDs, which leads to increase in the audit risk and audit fees.

Practical implications

Needless to say, the findings of this paper will have practical implications for investors, auditors and other users of financial statements. First of all, this study will aware them of the fact that when a country faces economic sanctions and most of its companies are in financial strain investors should not consider the firms engaging in corporate social responsibility activities to behave morally and provide transparent financial reports. Second, the results will convince auditors to be conservative toward the firms that are financially distressed, for audit risk of them will be high. Thus, policymakers should be cautious concerning directors’ opportunistic actions and increase monitoring to enforce social obedience.

Originality/value

The turning point of this research is related to the time period of research related to firms that have faced severe financial problems due to economic sanctions. In fact, the study revealed another aspect of CSRD that could have negative consequences when managers are in financial strain and take opportunistic actions.

Details

Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2515-964X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 September 2023

Waris Ali and Jeffrey Wilson

This study uses a multi-level framework to systematically summarize and synthesize the empirical literature on determinants of sustainability disclosure.

Abstract

Purpose

This study uses a multi-level framework to systematically summarize and synthesize the empirical literature on determinants of sustainability disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

This review study is based on 159 empirical studies examining determinants of sustainability disclosure and published in Charted Association of Business Schools (CABS) ranked journals over the last 40 years.

Findings

Companies are experiencing multi-level pressures for sustainability disclosure. Macro-level variables include political, legal, social-cultural and international pressures. Meso-level factors include customers' concerns, shareholders’ and investors' demands, industry-level variables and media coverage. Micro-level factors include the firm-level governance mechanisms, executives' reporting attitude and role of sustainability promoting institutions. Unlike in developed markets, companies in developing markets feel minimal public pressure for sustainability disclosure but rather are influenced by international NGOs, the media and international buyers. Multi-level and multitude of pressures for sustainability disclosure explains the widely observed differences between studies.

Originality/value

This research presents the most extensive systematic review of the extant sustainability disclosure literature and is the first study to group determinants into micro-, meso- and macro-level components using multi-level analysis.

Details

Managerial Finance, vol. 50 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0307-4358

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 September 2020

Ahmed Diab and Abdelmoneim Bahyeldin Mohamed Metwally

The study aims to investigate the appearance of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) practices in a context where economic, communal and political institutions…

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the appearance of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) practices in a context where economic, communal and political institutions are highly central and competing with each other.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretically, the study draws upon the institutional logics perspective and the theoretical concepts of logics centrality and compatibility to understand how higher-order institutions interact with mundane CSER practices observed at the case company's micro level. Empirical data were solicited in an Egyptian village community, where fishing, agriculture and especially salt production constitute the main economic activities underlying its livelihood. A combination of interviews, informal conversations, observations and documents solicits the required data.

Findings

Thereby, this study presents an inclusive view of CSER as practiced in developing countries, which is based not only on rational economic perspectives – as is the case in developed and stabilised contexts – but also on social, familial and political aspects that are central to the present complex institutional environment.

Originality/value

The reported findings in this study highlight the role of non-economic (societal) logics in understating CSER in African developing nations.

Details

Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-1168

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 August 2019

Muatasim Ismaeel and Zarina Zakaria

This study aims to explore the preparers’ perceptions of sustainability reporting as a distinct voluntary corporate reporting practice in the Middle East. It links these…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the preparers’ perceptions of sustainability reporting as a distinct voluntary corporate reporting practice in the Middle East. It links these perceptions to the influences of local and global institutional contexts and how companies respond to them.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is informed by a discursive institutionalism theoretical framework that incorporates concepts such as multiple institutional logics, hybridity in social practice and interpretive role of social agents. Its empirical findings are built on seven interviews with officials involved in the practice to explore their perception of sustainability reports.

Findings

Sustainability reporting is not understood and perceived in the same way among reporting companies in the Middle East. The difference in perception is linked to the scope of operations of the company, whether it is global or local. The results provide evidence supporting the theoretical framework. Different institutional logics are identified that interact at the structure level to influence sustainability reporting practice, and companies act at the agency level by selecting from the institutional influences what match their interests and priorities. Consequently, the practice itself will be hybrid and will include various ways and forms of reporting.

Originality/value

The study contributes to knowledge about how global business practices are adopted by companies in the developing countries.

Details

Meditari Accountancy Research, vol. 28 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2049-372X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 December 2020

Zeeshan Mahmood and Shahzad Uddin

This paper aims to deepen the understanding of logics and practice variation in sustainability reporting in an emerging field.

2646

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to deepen the understanding of logics and practice variation in sustainability reporting in an emerging field.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts the institutional logics perspective and its conceptualization of society as an inter-institutional system as a theoretical lens to understand reasons for the presence of and variation in sustainability reporting. The empirical findings are based on analysis of 28 semi-structured interviews with significant social actors, and extensive documentary evidence focusing on eight companies pioneering sustainability reporting in Pakistan.

Findings

This paper confirms the presence of multiple co-existing logics in sustainability practices and lack of a dominant logic. Sustainability reporting practices are underpinned by a combination of market and corporate (business logics), state (regulatory logics), professional (transparency logics) and community (responsibility logics) institutional orders. It is argued that institutional heterogeneity (variations in logics) drives the diversity of motivations for and variations in sustainability reporting practices.

Research limitations/implications

The paper offers a deeper theoretical explanation of how various logics dominate sustainability reporting in a field where the institutionalization of practice is in its infancy.

Practical implications

Understanding the conditions that influence the logics of corporate decision-makers will provide new insights into what motivates firms to engage in sustainability reporting. A broader understanding of sustainability reporting in emerging fields will foster its intended use to increase transparency, accountability and sustainability performance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to relatively scarce but growing empirical research on emerging fields. Its major contribution lies in its focus on how multiple and conflicting institutional logics are instantiated at the organizational level, leading to wide practice variations, especially in an emerging field. In doing so, it advances the institutional logics debate on practice variations within the accounting literature.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 January 2022

Shaban Mohammadi and Hadi Saeidi

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on financial accounting concepts (including the stock return, real earnings…

1140

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on financial accounting concepts (including the stock return, real earnings management, information asymmetry and financial performance) in Iranian companies listed in stock exchanges.

Design/methodology/approach

This is descriptive-correlational and applied research. The statistical population of this research is all companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange, and the research period is from 2012 to 2018. Using the screening method a sample of 150 companies was selected. Multivariate regression and the software Eviews 10 were used for data analysis and hypothesis testing.

Findings

The results indicated that CSR has a significant effect on stock return; however, it does not have a significant effect on real earnings management. CSR has a significant effect on information asymmetry and financial performance.

Originality/value

The present study is the first research conducted on CSR and financial concepts in Iran. The results of this study contribute to the literature by introducing social responsibility to financial accounting variables and provide suggestions for capital market participants. Social responsibility has received growing attention from many companies and managers, as it influences the interests of indirect stakeholders in addition to direct ones. CSR reporting can enhance the development of scientific and cultural skills by promoting a culture of knowledge acquisition and knowledge creation, leading to a reduced gap between the expectations of economic enterprises and the community.

Details

Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8021

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 April 2020

Sohel Mehedi and Dayana Jalaludin

The purpose of this paper is to review the background of the theories, how they motivate corporations to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and their…

1302

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the background of the theories, how they motivate corporations to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and their application, focusing on the study context and corporate attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used Google Scholar as an online database and collected 170 published academic papers via a systematic search procedure; of these, 112 papers were selected as suitable for the study purpose. The selection followed the analysis of the abstract, the paper contents including the proposition of the theories, the literature review, the theoretical framework and the hypothesis development.

Findings

The study findings indicate that the cores of the proposed theories to explore CSR are not identical. The components of theories build a social value system, which intensely motivates corporations to engage in CSR activities and voluntary disclosure practices. A thorough analysis of the characteristics of the theories demonstrates that the choice of theories to explore both an endogenous variable like CSR and exogenous variables depends on the study context and the characteristics of the corporate attributes.

Research limitations/implications

The study considers only the most prominent theories in CSR research, but many other theories are also explored in CSR research. In addition, the study takes only academic papers in the English language into consideration, and the generalization of study findings is only for CSR research.

Practical implications

The study aims to provide guidance about the selection of theories based on the contexts and corporate attributes to explore both endogenous and exogenous variables. It draws policymakers’ attention toward the renovation and addition of motivational instruments in the context. The study also helps industry practitioners in realizing the principles and consequences of the theories and in taking strategic social and environmental obligations into consideration in their decision-making process.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to conduct a literature review on the development of theories and corporate CSR engagement from 1975 to 2019, covering 112 published academic papers. A deeper understanding using theoretical conceptualization as guidance is beneficial, as it provides a strong basis for the enhancement of future CSR corporate activities.

Details

International Journal of Ethics and Systems, vol. 36 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9369

Keywords

1 – 10 of 45