Environmental disclosure on mandatory and voluntary reporting of Portuguese listed firms: the role of environmental certification, lucratively and corporate governance

Purpose This study aims to construct two environmental disclosure indices (EDI), one obtained from the mandatory reporting (annual report) and the other from the voluntary reporting (sustainability report), to compare their evolution. In addition, the authors developed and evaluated a conceptual model that aims to analyse if the two EDI are affected by industry, environmental certification, lucratively and corporate governance attributes. The legitimacy, signalling and voluntary disclosure theories are used to support the theoretical relationship between the company’s characteristics, corporate governance and environmental disclosure. Design/methodology/approach Using the content analysis technique, the authors have developed two indices to assess the level of environmental disclosure in the companies’ mandatory and voluntary reporting. In addition, to analyse the determinants of EDI, the authors applied the technique of multiple linear regression using panel data. Findings Based on Portuguese listed companies (Euronext-Lisbon), the results, from 2015 to 2017, exhibited an increase of 14.6% and 25.8% for the EDI obtained from the annual reports and for EDI obtained from the sustainability reporting, respectively. In addition, the results revealed that the environmental certification, lucratively, number of members on board and number and proportion of women of the board directors tend to affect the annual reporting EDI. Regarding the sustainability reporting EDI, the results showed that the environmental certification, lucratively and proportion of independent members of the board of directors have an impact on it. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on quantitative rather than qualitative disclosures and it brings some insights to the theoretical field. Practical implications The results obtained can assist corporate decision-making processes regarding the improvement of environmental disclosure, both on the mandatory annual report and on voluntary sustainability reports. Originality/value This study brings new perspectives to this topical issue in accounting. Originally, this study is applied to Portuguese listed companies and it shows different trends and determinants of environmental disclosure when included in the annual reporting or sustainability reporting.

The Citizen and the Automated State: Exploring the Implications of Algorithmic Decision-making in the New Zealand Public Sector

<p>Algorithms increasingly influence how the state treats its citizens. This thesis examines how the New Zealand public sector’s use of algorithms in decision-making brings benefits, but also invites risks of discrimination, bias, intrusion into privacy and unfair decision-making. This thesis’s central conclusion is that these risks require a new response. New Zealand currently has a patchwork of existing protections which provide some deterrent against poor algorithmic decision-making. The Privacy Act 1993, Official Information Act 1982, New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, Human Rights Act 1993 and applicable administrative law principles can provide remedies and correct agencies’ poor behaviour in certain cases. But important gaps remain. This thesis examines these protections to show that they do not adequately stem cumulative and systemic harms, and suffer from important practical drawbacks. They do not provide the sound preventative framework that is needed; that is, one which ensures good public sector practice. This thesis proposes a new regulatory model for public sector use of algorithms. It argues that a key element of any effective regulatory response is the use of “algorithmic impact assessments”. These assessments would mitigate potential risks, and legitimise proportionate public sector use, of algorithms. It is also proposed that an independent regulator complements these assessments by issuing guidance, undertaking algorithm audits, and ensuring political accountability through annual reporting to Parliament. Agencies would have new obligations to disclose how and when algorithms are used in decision-making. Meanwhile, citizens would gain an enhanced right to reasons for algorithmic decisions affecting them and a right to human review. Together these measures would establish a model which would safeguard responsible and effective use of algorithms in New Zealand’s public sector.</p>

The Citizen and the Automated State: Exploring the Implications of Algorithmic Decision-making in the New Zealand Public Sector

<p>Algorithms increasingly influence how the state treats its citizens. This thesis examines how the New Zealand public sector’s use of algorithms in decision-making brings benefits, but also invites risks of discrimination, bias, intrusion into privacy and unfair decision-making. This thesis’s central conclusion is that these risks require a new response. New Zealand currently has a patchwork of existing protections which provide some deterrent against poor algorithmic decision-making. The Privacy Act 1993, Official Information Act 1982, New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, Human Rights Act 1993 and applicable administrative law principles can provide remedies and correct agencies’ poor behaviour in certain cases. But important gaps remain. This thesis examines these protections to show that they do not adequately stem cumulative and systemic harms, and suffer from important practical drawbacks. They do not provide the sound preventative framework that is needed; that is, one which ensures good public sector practice. This thesis proposes a new regulatory model for public sector use of algorithms. It argues that a key element of any effective regulatory response is the use of “algorithmic impact assessments”. These assessments would mitigate potential risks, and legitimise proportionate public sector use, of algorithms. It is also proposed that an independent regulator complements these assessments by issuing guidance, undertaking algorithm audits, and ensuring political accountability through annual reporting to Parliament. Agencies would have new obligations to disclose how and when algorithms are used in decision-making. Meanwhile, citizens would gain an enhanced right to reasons for algorithmic decisions affecting them and a right to human review. Together these measures would establish a model which would safeguard responsible and effective use of algorithms in New Zealand’s public sector.</p>

MODERATING OF POLLITICAL CONNECTION ON FACTORS AFFECTING FRAUDULENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT FROM THE PENTAGON FRAUD MODEL PERSPECTIVE

ABSTRACT The Purpose of this research is to analyze the effect of the factors that effect of fraud in financial statements that occur in companies. And also analyzes the impact of political connections as a moderating variable that strengthens or weakens the factors that influences fraud in the financial statements.The author collects empirical study data from manufacture industry companies, using secondary data taken from annual reporting of companies listed in the Indonesia Stock Exchange and analyzes them using the SPSS program. A total of 60 units of data analysis that meet the criteria and can be used as sample in the research. This research reveals that effective monitoring and change of director has a positive and significant effect on financial statement of fraudulent. A set of financial targets, changes of auditors, and the frequencies of CEO pictures have not effect on fraudulent of financial statement. Whatever, the impact on political connection as oderating variable only strengthens the influence between effective monitoring and change of BOD on fraudulent financial statement from before being moderated by the political connection. This study only takes data of secondary from the annual reporting of companies and financial reports of firm from BEI, especially the manufacturing industry which only covers three sectors. Meanwhile, the Indonesia Stock Exchange consists of nine existing industrial sectors. Originality/value for this research is Political Connection as a moderator between financial stability, in effectively monitoring, change of auditor, change of director and frequencies of number commissioner’s pictures on financial statement of fraudulent in the context of manufacture companies listed in BEI is still little researched. So this research will not only fill in the current gaps in the literature but also spark new academic debates, but this study will also contribute to the practice of fraudulent financial. Keywords: financial stability, ineffectively monitoring, changes of auditor, changes of director, financial statement of fraudulent

Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State

Wildlife rehabilitation is a publicly popular practice, though not without controversy. State wildlife agencies frequently debate the ecological impact of rehabilitation. By analyzing case records, we can clarify and quantify the causes for rehabilitation, species involved, and treatment outcomes. This data would aid regulatory agencies and rehabilitators in making informed decisions, as well as gaining insight into causes of species mortality. In New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has licensed rehabilitators since 1980 and annual reporting is required. In this study, we analyzed 58,185 individual wildlife cases that were attended by New York rehabilitators between 2012 and 2014. These encompassed 30,182 (51.9%) birds, 25,447 (43.7%) mammals, 2,421 (4.2%) reptiles, and 75 (0.1%) amphibians. We identified patterns among taxonomic representation, reasons for presentation to a rehabilitation center, and animal disposition. Major causes of presentation were trauma (n = 22,156; 38.1%) and orphaning (n = 21,679; 37.3%), with habitat loss (n = 3,937; 6.8%), infectious disease (n = 1,824; 3.1%), and poisoning or toxin exposure (n = 806; 1.4%) playing lesser roles. The overall release rate for animals receiving care was 50.2% while 45.3% died or were euthanized during the rehabilitation process. A relatively small number (0.3%) were permanently non-releasable and placed in captivity; 4.1% had unknown outcomes. A comparable evaluation in 1989 revealed that wildlife submissions have increased (annual mean 12,583 vs 19,395), and are accompanied by a significant improvement in release (50.2% in the study period vs 44.4% in 1989) (χ2(1) = 90.43, p < 0.0001). In this manuscript, we aim to describe the rehabilitator community in New York State, and present the causes and outcomes for rehabilitation over a three-year period.

ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS IN THE PROFILE "MEDICAL REHABILITATION" IN ASTRAKHAN REGION

The relevance of the study due to the need to pay more attention to the effective planning of health care volumes under the compulsory health insurance and the creation of an accessible system of medical rehabilitation for adults in the region. The purpose of the study is to analyze the availability and effectiveness of medical care provided to adults in the "medical rehabilitation" profile within the framework of compulsory medical insurance in the Astrakhan region. Materials and methods - on the basis of data from the Federal State Statistics Service, the territorial fund of compulsory medical insurance in the Astrakhan region, annual reporting statistical forms No. 30, 14, 14-DS, the calculation and analysis of indicators of the optimal volume of medical care for the profile of medical rehabilitation was carried out, taking into account the profile of the disease (the number of hospitalizations per one inhabitant per year, funding per unit of the volume of medical care) of adult patients aged 18 years and older. Results and discussion - the article presents the results of assessing the planned and actual indicators of the volume of medical care for medical rehabilitation for adults, taking into account the profile of diseases in the conditions of round-the-clock and day hospitals of medical organizations participating in the territorial program of state guarantees of free provision of medical care to citizens in the region in 2019. It was revealed that at the expense of the compulsory medical insurance fund, the largest proportion of treated patients in rehabilitation beds is noted among those who receive medical services for neuro- and cardiac rehabilitation. However, rehabilitation care for critically ill patients with scores on the rehabilitation routing scale of 5 and 6 points, with a high rehabilitation potential, as well as for other categories of patients with somatic diseases, remains inaccessible. Conclusion. The obtained research data can be used for further organizational and methodological work to increase the availability and efficiency of medical rehabilitation care for adults, the development of available routing schemes, selection procedures, digitalization of the management of patient flows sent to medical rehabilitation within the framework of compulsory medical insurance at the regional level.

PROVIDING REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES TO PATIENTS WHO UNDERWENT CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN THE ASTRAKHAN REGION

The relevance of the study is explained by the need to increase attention to the situation with acute cardiovascular diseases and the creation of an accessible system of medical rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular diseases in the region. The aim of the study is to analyze the provision of rehabilitation measures for patients who have suffered cardiovascular accidents in the Astrakhan region. Materials and methods - based on the data of the annual reporting statistical forms No. 12 "Information on the number of diseases registered in patients living in the service area of the medical institution" and No. 14 "Information on the activities of the hospital", the calculation and analysis of indicators of general and primary morbidity was carried out ( on appeal), hospitalized morbidity, hospital mortality, the need for rehabilitation measures and their provision of adult patients aged 18 years and older with diseases of the circulatory system, including cardiovascular accidents in the Astrakhan region. Results and discussion - the article shows the general situation with the incidence of diseases of the circulatory system of the adult population, including acute coronary syndrome and acute cerebrovascular accident in dynamics from 2014 to 2020, discloses the organizational and structural aspects of the existing system of organizing rehabilitation care in the region. The results of assessing the satisfaction of the needs of the adult population of the region in neuro- and cardiac rehabilitation by medical organizations licensed for medical activities with an indication of the work (services) for medical rehabilitation and participating in the federal and territorial program of state guarantees of free provision of medical care to citizens in the region are presented. It was revealed that less than half of those in need receive medical rehabilitation assistance at the expense of the mandatory medical insurance fund. Proposals have been formulated to increase the availability of rehabilitation care for patients who have undergone cardiovascular accidents. Conclusion. The obtained research data can be used for further organizational, methodological and coordination work to provide modern medical and rehabilitation care to patients with acute cardiovascular accidents at the regional level.

Principles-based accounting standards and the timeliness of annual reports: evidence from China

PurposeThis paper addresses the role of principles-based accounting standards as a potential mechanism for reducing firms' time delay of annual reporting disclosure while improving the timeliness of accounting information. The paper also contributes to the existing literature by addressing the mediating effects of the financial reporting complexity and the audit workload on the link between principles-based accounting standards and the time delay of annual reporting disclosure.Design/methodology/approachThe focus is placed on an unbalanced panel of 20,943 samples over the period of 2007–2017.FindingsThe results show that the more principles-based the accounting standards are, the lower the time delay of annual reporting disclosure is, and the timelier the disclosure of accounting information is. The relationship between the two is more significant especially in the first two months after the end of the fiscal year. The findings are all robust after controlling for a series of sensitivity checks and endogenous concerns. From the mediating effect results, the authors find that principles-based accounting standards decrease the financial reporting complexity and the audit workload which in turn can help lower time delay of annual reporting disclosure. In addition, the negative effect of principles-based accounting standards on the time delay of annual reporting disclosure is more significant in the case that the company has “good news” including with no losses and receiving the standard auditing opinions. The results confirm the law of “good news announces early, bad news announces late.” Furthermore, the moderating effect results show that the higher the economic policy uncertainty index and the legal environment index, the lower the benefit of principles-based accounting standards to the timeliness of annual reports. The results of the economic consequences of timeliness suggest that the timely disclosure of accounting reporting will bring greater market reaction and contain more information, and the information of companies that disclose annual reports timely are more transparent.Originality/valueThis paper studies the impact of accounting standards on the timeliness of annual report disclosure, which enriches the literature in the field of macro policies and micro-enterprise behaviors.

Editorial Note

This Editorial Note, marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the journal, introduces the results of the 2021 IAPSS Politikon Best Article Award. It furthermore discusses the results of selected performance indicators in the last annual reporting period (June 2020 to May 2021) and highlights important changes in the editorial composition and management of the journal.