The determinants influencing the extent of CSR disclosure
International Journal of Law and Management
ISSN: 1754-243X
Article publication date: 2 September 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to investigate the potential effects of corporate governance and financial characteristics on the extent of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure focusing on the US companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consists of 366 companies from the Fortune 500 list for 2011. The environmental, social and governance disclosure score calculated by Bloomberg is used as a proxy for the extent of CSR disclosure. Multiple regression analysis was developed to identify factors that affect the extent of CSR disclosure.
Findings
Results show that company and board size is significantly and positively related to the extent of CSR disclosure, and companies with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) duality characteristics publish less information on their CSR disclosure, while there are significant differences between different industries and the extent of CSR disclosure.
Research limitations/implications
The research is based only on the presence or the absence of CSR disclosure without receiving the quality aspect of the CSR disclosure which could lead to misinterpretation. The results should not be generalized as the sample was based on large-size US companies for 2011.
Originality/value
This study extends the scope of previous studies by introducing new independent and dependent variables. It contributes to the understanding of determinants of CSR disclosure to improve the implementation of disclosure guidelines.
Keywords
Citation
Giannarakis, G. (2014), "The determinants influencing the extent of CSR disclosure", International Journal of Law and Management, Vol. 56 No. 5, pp. 393-416. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-05-2013-0021
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited