The influence of pro-environmental managers’ personal values on environmental disclosure

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercedes Luque-Vílchez ◽  
Enrique Mesa-Pérez ◽  
Javier Husillos ◽  
Carlos Larrinaga
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Social Reporting ◽  
Disclosure Quality ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reporting Practices ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Transparency And Accountability

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine in greater depth the influence of internal factors on the disclosure of environmental information by companies. The influence of pro-environmental managers´ personal values on environmental disclosure quality is analyzed and the extent to which the influence of those values is mediated by the practices associated with the environmental organizational structure of the company.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a partial least squares structural equation model to analyze the relationship between the quality of the environmental information disclosed by 137 environmentally sensitive Spanish firms, their level of commitment towards the environment and the personal values of the directors in charge of those reports.FindingsA central finding of this work is that a positive relationship between the pro-environmental managers’ personal values and environmental disclosure quality is fully mediated by the environmental organizational structures of their companies.Practical implicationsA better understanding of the relationship between the personal values of managers and corporate environmental reporting quality will contribute to the design of policies that can enhance firm transparency and accountability, for example, by educating future managers in sustainability values.Social implicationsLight is cast on the mechanisms that can enhance corporate transparency and accountability in relation to environmental matters.Originality/valueIn this paper, a quantitative study of the internal driving forces of environmental disclosure is conducted, an aspect that has often been ignored in the literature on quantitative voluntary social reporting. The merit of this approach is its contribution to the literature through the analysis of the reasons why powerful actors within firms could (or could not) develop corporate social reporting practices.

Does policy uncertainty affect corporate environmental information disclosure: evidence from China

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 903-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Pan ◽  
Qiuping Chen ◽  
Pengdong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Appraisal System ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Information Disclosure ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate whether and how policy uncertainty affect corporate environmental information disclosure. Design/methodology/approach This study conducts a difference-in-difference estimation and systematically investigates the relationship between policy uncertainty and corporate environmental information disclosure. The baseline regression results are robust to a series of robustness and endogeneity tests. Findings The authors show that firms located in cities with stronger policy uncertainty disclose less information on environmental issues. Furthermore, this negative relationship is stronger in the Midwest and in pre-industrial regions and for stated-owned firms and firms in highly polluting industries. Practical implications This study argues that policy uncertainty reduce the corporate disclosure of environmental information. Therefore, the results provide evidence on how to better emphasize the importance of green gross domestic product in the performance appraisal system for officials. Social implications This study confirms that corporate environmental disclosure is a response to public pressure. The results encourage the government and the public to increase corporate awareness of environmental protection. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature in the following ways. First, the authors provide a new perspective to study the relationship between policy uncertainty and corporate finance. Second, it contributes to the literature on corporate environmental information disclosure by linking policy uncertainty with firms’ disclosure of environmental information. Third, this study is a serious attempt to solve the problem of endogeneity between policy uncertainty and corporate environmental information disclosure.

The relationship between environmental disclosure quality and earnings quality: a panel study of an emerging market

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 326-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Alipour ◽  
Mehrdad Ghanbari ◽  
Babak Jamshidinavid ◽  
Aliasghar Taherabadi
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Market ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Disclosure Quality ◽  
Environmental Reporting ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between corporate environmental disclosure quality (EDQ) and earnings quality (EQ). Design/methodology/approach The paper uses earnings persistence and accruals quality as a measures of EQ. The paper also uses panel data regression to examine the association between EDQ and EQ for a sample of 107 Iran non-financial firms. Two different theoretical frameworks are used to clarify whether and to what extent an association may exist as an explicit relationship between EDQ and EQ. Findings After controlling for several firm-specific characteristics, the results show that between 2011 and 2016, there has been a significant positive relationship between EDQ and EQ. Practical implications This study sheds light on the relevance of regulating corporate reporting within a setting where companies are already voluntarily reporting on environmental information. Findings have implications for policymakers who have mandated or considering mandating environmental reporting. To the policymakers, in particular, this study highlights the need for incorporating, within the listing rules, minimum requirements in relation to the nature and content of environmental reports. Social implications The findings have implications for stakeholders in terms of effective information quality. The findings are important as more environmentally responsible firms may provide higher quality, more reliable and more transparent information to meet the ethical expectations of stakeholders. Originality/value This is the first study in Iran that considered the impact of EDQ on EQ. This study contributes to the literature on the relationship between EDQ and EQ by showing that the EDQ in Iran is associated with the EQ.

scholarly journals The relationships between reporting format, environmental disclosure and environmental performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abeer Hassan ◽  
Xin Guo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Strategic Communication ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Legitimacy Theory ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess whether European companies issue standalone environmental reports in an attempt to gain and maintain legitimacy with relevant stakeholders. This is achieved by creating and empirically testing a model of the relationships between corporate reporting format, industry membership, environmental disclosure, and environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach Data are collected from 100 large European companies in carbon and non-carbon-intensive industries. Hypothesis testing is conducted via structure equation modeling. Findings Evidence exists that companies which disclose environmental information in standalone environmental reports tend to provide higher levels of environmental information than companies which combine financial and environmental disclosure in annual reports. The findings support greenwashing as a new perspective of legitimacy theory: companies in carbon-intensive industry use standalone environmental reports to pose as good corporate citizens even when they are not. Research limitations/implications The sample companies are large European companies and this could limit the generalizability of research findings. The authors call for longitudinal studies examining how the relationship between reporting format and environmental disclosure changes. Practical implications This paper suggests that reporting format be considered a proactive, strategic communication-driven activity rather than a decision that managers passively make in response to external scrutiny. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature by adding to the scarce evidence of the relationship between reporting format and environmental disclosure. Greenwashing as a new perspective of legitimacy theory is used to develop research hypotheses.

Environmental disclosure quality and risk: the moderating effect of corporate governance

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zabihollah Rezaee ◽  
Mohammad Alipour ◽  
Omid Faraji ◽  
Mehrdad Ghanbari ◽  
Babak Jamshidinavid
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Firm Risk ◽  
Disclosure Quality ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship between environmental disclosure quality (EDQ) and risk and to further examine whether corporate governance (CG) practices moderate this relationship. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a set of unique, hand collected data (from 2011 to 2016) to measure EDQ for a sample of 762 firm-years Iranian listed companies. Ordinary least squares regression analysis is performed in testing hypotheses after controlling for a variety of firm, industry and year effects. Moreover, several analyses are performed to establish the robustness of the findings. Findings The results indicate a negative association between EDQ and firm risk. While board independence moderates this relationship, other CG practices such as CEO duality and board size do not show any effects on the relationship between EDQ and risk. The results remain robust after performing sensitivity tests and under various specifications, including the fixed-effects panel data and Heckman two-stage regressions. Research limitations/implications Results are from a sample of firms from one country. Practical implications The results have implications for policymakers, legislators and corporate executives, as environmental initiatives are gaining more attention worldwide. Social implications Sustainability initiatives in the areas of environmental and social performance and disclosure are gaining global attention. This study addresses the link between firm risk and EDQ. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by shedding light on the relationship between corporate risk-taking and EDQ in the context of a developing economy.

scholarly journals The Determinants of Environmental Disclosure Quality: Empirical Evidence from Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Pricilia Angela ◽  
Sofik Handoyo
Keyword(s):  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Disclosure Quality ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Environmental Information Disclosure ◽  
The Relationship

Sustainability issues have increased the need for stakeholder toward environmental information disclosure. Quality of environmental information is pivotal for stakeholders to make a proper assessment of a firm’s environmental performance. This study examines the relationship between a firm’s characteristics and environmental disclosure quality. Firm’s characteristics in this study refer to the size, ownership concentration, age, and leverage. Content analysis of sustainability reporting was applied in this study. The study involved 33 listed firms in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) that are consistently issued sustainability reporting during 2014-2016. Simultaneously test indicated that characteristics of the firm significantly explain the variance of environmental disclosure quality. However, partially test showed that leverage is the only variable significantly influenced environmental disclosure quality. 

Civil engineers’ personal values/demographics linkage in project team building

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1337-1349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atilla Damci ◽  
David Arditi ◽  
Gul Polat
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Project Teams ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Civil Engineers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between civil engineers’ demographics (e.g. age, marital status, education, work experience) and their personal values. The objective was to predict civil engineers’ personal values based on their demographics. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was administered to civil engineers to collect data on their demographics and their personal values. Statistical analysis was performed to verify whether a significant statistical relationship exists between civil engineers’ demographics and their personal values. Findings The most important and the least important personal values were identified for civil engineers. Statistical analysis indicated that civil engineers’ values do vary based on their demographics. Research limitations/implications The results of this study cannot be generalized, because individuals’ personal values and demographics are, by definition, local. Location and culture may affect the personal values of civil engineers. Practical implications Team leaders normally have access to information about the demographics of the engineers they employ; based on the results of this study, they should be able to predict their personal values, and to make more informed decisions when appointing them to particular positions on project teams. Originality/value The research presented in this paper, establishes for the first time, that a linkage exists between civil engineers’ personal values and their demographics, and makes it easier for team leaders to make assignment decisions.

Corporate social responsibility disclosure and information asymmetry: does boardroom attributes matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Hamrouni ◽  
Mondher Bouattour ◽  
Nadia Ben Farhat Toumi ◽  
Rim Boussaada
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Board Independence ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Csr Disclosure ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Social Disclosure

PurposeThe current study aims to investigate the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and information asymmetry, as well as the moderating effect of board characteristics (gender diversity, size and independence) on this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a panel data regression analysis with the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) estimator of nonfinancial French firms included in the SBF 120 index. The environmental and social disclosure scores are collected from the Bloomberg database, while financial data are collected from the FactSet database.FindingsThe empirical results demonstrate that environmental disclosure has a positive impact on the level of information asymmetry, while social disclosure has no effect on the information environment. Gender diversity and board independence negatively impact the opacity index, while board size has a positive effect. The presence of women in board composition has a substitution effect on the relationship between environmental disclosure and information asymmetry. There is no moderating effect of board size on the association between CSR disclosure and information asymmetry. However, the proportion of independent female directors and board independence operates as substitutes to social disclosure on reducing information asymmetry.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the models include the most common control variables used in the literature, they omit some variables. Second, the results should be interpreted with caution and should not be generalized to the entire stock market since the sample is based on large French companies.Practical implicationsThe results of this study may be of interest to managers, investors and French market authorities since France is characterized by highly developed laws and reforms in the area of CSR. In addition, the paper leads to a better understanding of how women on the board, in particular, independent female directors, affect the relationship between CSR disclosure and information asymmetry. This could be of interest to French authorities, which has encouraged the appointment of women through the adoption of the Copé–Zimmermann law.Originality/valueFirst, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore the moderating effect of board characteristics on the relationship between CSR and information asymmetry. Second, unlike previous studies using individual proxies to measure information asymmetry, the authors favor the opacity index of Anderson et al. (2009). They calculate this index by including a fifth individual measure, namely, share price volatility. The opacity index better describes the information environment of companies than individual measures since it reflects the perceptions of investors and analysts together.

Does environmental disclosure have an auditing effect?

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-66
Author(s):  
Sheng Yao ◽  
Lingling Pan ◽  
Zhipeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Audit Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Media Attention ◽  
Environmental Disclosures ◽  
Audit Opinions ◽  
High Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether firms with high environmental disclosure have a low possibility of non-standard audit opinions and audit fees and whether this trend is more obvious after than prior to the Measures for the Disclosure of Environmental Information (Measure) implemented in 2008. Design/methodology/approach Based on the Measures implemented in 2008, the authors select data for the listed manufacturing firms from 2004 to 2006 (Pre-Measure) and from 2009 to 2011 (Post-Measure) as research samples to investigate the relationships between environmental disclosures, audit opinions and audit fees with difference in difference models. In addition, we also consider the influence of media attention, the polluting industry and internal control on the audit effect of environmental disclosure. Findings The results show that the level of environmental disclosure is significantly negatively correlated with the possibility of issuing non-standard audit opinions and audit fees after measure is implemented, especially hard environmental information. Further evidence indicates that the auditing effect of environmental disclosures is stronger on firms that receive less media attention, in firms with better internal controls, and in firms belonging to industries with heavy pollution. Originality/value In the Chinese setting, a high level of environmental information disclosures can effectively reduce the audit risk and lead to a high possibility of standard audit opinions and low audit fees. This effect is pronounced after issuing Measure. The conclusions suggest that measure and increasing environmental disclosure have an obvious positive audit effect and that firms should be forced or encouraged to disclose more environmental information from the perspective of auditors in China.

scholarly journals Impact of governance structures on environmental disclosures in the Middle East and Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 739-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erhan Kilincarslan ◽  
Mohamed H. Elmagrhi ◽  
Zezeng Li
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
Environmental Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Disclosures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance structures on environmental disclosure practices in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Design/methodology/approach The research model uses a panel data set of 121 publicly listed (non-financial and non-utility) firms from 11 MEA countries over the period 2010-2017, uses alternative dependent variables and regression techniques and is applied to various sub-groups to improve robustness. Findings The empirical results strongly indicate that MEA firms with high governance disclosures tend to have better environmental disclosure practices. The board characteristics of gender diversity, size, CEO/chairperson duality and audit committee size impact positively on MEA firms’ voluntary environmental disclosures, whereas board independence has a negative influence. Research limitations/implications This study advances research on the relationship between corporate governance structures and environmental disclosure practices in MEA countries, but is limited to firms for which data are available from Bloomberg. Practical implications The results have important practical implications for MEA policymakers and regulators. The positive impact of board gender diversity on firms’ environmental disclosures, policy reforms should aim to increase female directors. MEA corporations aiming to be more environmentally friendly should recruit women to top managerial positions. Originality/value This is thought to be the first study to provide insights from the efficiency and legitimation perspectives of neo-institutional theory to explain the relationship between MEA firms’ internal governance structures and environmental disclosures.

Influences on the intention to buy organic food in an emerging market

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 858-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emerson Wagner Mainardes ◽  
Diana Von Borell de Araujo ◽  
Sarah Lasso ◽  
Daniel Modenesi Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Organic Food ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Openness To Change ◽  
Intention To Purchase ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Self Transcendence ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between personal values and attitudes in an emerging market. And the authors verified whether the attitude plays a mediating role between personal values and the intention to purchase these products in the same market. Design/methodology/approach Two surveys were conducted with consumers of organic food in Brazil. The first study was conducted at two organic products fairs and obtained 385 responses. The second study was conducted on the internet and obtained 270 responses. The Portrait Values Questionnaire 21, plus attitude scales and purchase intent regarding organic food, was used. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Findings Significant relationships were found between personal values, such as openness to change (positive influence), conservation (positive), self-promotion (positive) and self-transcendence (negative). Significant relationships were also found between three personal values and the purchase intention of organic food (conservation – positive, self-promotion – positive and self-transcendence – negative), with all of them being mediated by attitude. The effect of openness to change on purchase intention was indirect, being mediated by attitude. Originality/value The authors noticed two theoretical gaps. The first involves the need to explore the attitude as a mediator in the relationship between the human values proposed by Schwartz (1992, 1994) and the intention to purchase organic food. Another perceived gap was pointed out by Steenkamp et al. (1999), Burgess and Steenkamp (2006) and Sheth (2011). These authors argue that consumption is different in emerging markets to that in more mature markets. This limits the ability to generalise consumer studies conducted in developed countries. This reasoning also applies to organic food.

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