Corporate social responsibility disclosure : an examination of framework of determinants and consequences

Abstract

This study presented a framework to explain corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSD) in terms of determinants and consequences. The study is dealing with quantity and quality of CSD in both annual and stand alone reports. The framework is based on legitimacy theory as appropriate theoretical background for CSD, and the main idea in this theoretical framework is that CSD is a function of social pressure on companies concerning their social responsibility. \nThe framework has started with explain the level of social pressure at the country level to explain the differences of the level of CSD among countries. It is argued that the interaction between economic level, culture and the level of corporate governance determine the level of social pressure in a given country. The level of CSD at the company level is determined according to two dimensions; the degree of social pressure that face each company and how each company responses to this pressure. It is argued that, on one hand, the interaction between corporate characteristics and media coverage of the company determine the degree of social pressure that face a company and on the other hand corporate governance mechanisms determine how each company responses to pressure. The last point in framework explains that the direct consequence for CSD is improving corporate social reputation. \nThe empirical results support, to large extent, the framework. At a country level, both cultural values and economic level determine the level of social responsibility disclosure in the country. Concerning determinants of CSD at a company level, it appears that quantity of CSD, and to lesser extent quality of CSD, can be determined according to the following variables: corporate size, type of activity, media pressure, board size, the presence of corporate responsibility committee as a board committee, and ownership diffusion. With regard to the consequences of CSD, the empirical evidence indicates that CSD significantly influences corporate social reputation, while it has no impact on corporate market value. \n

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