The Factors Influencing Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: In today’s world of increased awareness regarding the concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate governance (CG), many firms in the developed countries consider noncompliance with CSR and CG standards as an important source of risk to their reputations with stakeholders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) index and corporate factors, namely, board size, board independence, board meetings, CEO duality, a firm’s size, leverage, profitability and age. This is the first known study in the case of Saudi Arabia to use the GRI 4th edition indicators to construct the CSRD index and evaluate Saudi listed firms. Results: The results show that profitability and size factor have positive and significant association with CSR disclosure in listed Saudi firms. While CG characteristics have no impact on CSR disclosure except board independence which has a negative impact. Conclusion: The average of CSRD index among Saudi firms is too low, it is about 11% that means Saudi firms disclose 11% of the information that they have to provide for stockholders according to GRI guidelines. Furthermore, the study concludes that the most polluted sectors “Ene

Corporate social responsibility disclosures and earnings quality: Are they a reflection of managers’ opportunistic behavior?

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures and earnings quality proxied by earnings accruals. Specifically, we examine whether CSR disclosures are context-specific, that is, whether companies dominated by powerful stakeholders are obliged to behave in a responsible manner to constrain earnings management, thereby reporting higher-quality earnings to investors. Design/methodology/approach – This paper explores the relationship between CSR disclosures and earnings quality proxied by earnings accruals. Specifically, we examine whether CSR disclosures are context-specific, that is, whether companies dominated by powerful stakeholders are obliged to behave in a responsible manner to constrain earnings management, thereby reporting higher-quality earnings to investors. Findings – Results show that managers in an emerging economy manage earnings when they provide more CSR disclosures. Such earnings management is achieved through income increasing discretionary accruals. Furthermore, companies from export-oriented industries dominated by powerful stakeholders (international buyers) disclosing more CSR activities, provide transparent financial reports through constraining earnings management. Originality/value – The findings of this study are significant for both investors and policymakers. Investors should not take for granted that firms engage in CSR activities, behave ethically and provide transparent financial reports. As we document that firms might manipulate earnings through discretionary accruals and provide less transparent financial reports to shareholders, the credibility of firms’ CSR policies should be assessed with caution. Policies directing at promoting socially responsible practices instead of motivating the desired behaviour, may provide managers with additional incentives to utilise CSR for opportunistic behaviour. Thus, policymakers need to be cautious about this opportunistic behaviour and enhance monitoring to enforce social compliance. Possibly, some guidelines can be introduced to confirm that CSR disclosures are based on actual practice and not just a “green wash” statement to deceive stakeholders

The Impact of Regulations and Technology on Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures – Evidence from Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises in India

Information technology (IT), being an effective fount for all types of business policies, is useful for executing any firm\u27s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. IT has advanced tools and applications to execute the business plans very effectively which can leave the lasting footprints on the society, and also be helpful in increasing profits, enhancing the workplace, creating transformations for the disabled employees, creating educational opportunities that can bridge the digital divide, improving the business ethics and helping the society. CSR has become an integral part of the organizations which are involving all their stakeholders as beneficiaries and India is the first country to have the mandated CSR regulations. The present study has made an attempt to study the impact of CSR Regulations and technology on the CSR disclosures of the Indian Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) having Maharatna Status. For this purpose, Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Index (CSRDI) developed by Charumathi & Padmaja, 2015 was adopted for measuring the level of CSR disclosure and Corporate Information and Communication Technology Usage Index (CICTI) was developed and used to measure the level of IT usage. This study used secondary data. Using manual content analysis, the required data for (a) CSR Disclosures were collected from the annual reports of Maharatna companies and (b) CICT usage were collected from the web portals, recruitment portals, social media, news articles, CSR news by Maharatna companies and other digital sources. The sample for the study includes seven Maharatna CPSEs and the period of the study is six years ranging from 2011-12 to 2016-17. Using paired t test, it is found that there is a significant difference in CSR disclosures during pre and post-regulatory periods. CSR disclosures of Maharatna companies significantly increased post-CSR regulatory period. Using multiple regression analysis, it is found that there is a positive and significant relationship between the ICT usage and the CSR disclosures of Maharatna companies

Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance in Islamic Banking

The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure in Islamic banks and to analyze the relationship between performance indices Return On Average Assets (ROA) and Return On Equity (ROE) with the corporate social responsibility disclosure. An empirical analysis is conducted, based on the annual reports of 8 Islamic banks for years 2009 and 2010.  A Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Index (CRSDI) is constructed. To verify the link between ROA, ROE and CSRDI, regression models are run. The results indicate a lack in disclosing Corporate Social Responsibility, and the regression models show that there is no relation statistically significant between performance indices (ROA, ROE) and CSRD index. Keywords: Islamic bank, ROA, ROE, Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure, Regression, Content Analysi

CSR disclosure and corporate sustainability: evidence from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange

In this paper we examined the relationship between CSR and corporate sustainability of Chinese companies listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. This is necessitated by the high demand and increase in CSR activities and disclosures around the globe. Using a sample of 317 companies, we drew insights from the triple bottom line (TBL) and stakeholder theory to investigate the relationship between CSR and corporate sustainability. Data was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). A major contribution of this paper is the construction of a comprehensive CSR information disclosure index capable of guiding researchers and managers in measuring their CSR activities and reporting. The study's findings revealed that most Chinese companies stayed at the intermediate level of CSR information disclosure. Although CSR disclosure in economic and social dimension has a significant positive effect on corporate sustainability, our result shows a negative relationship with CSR in environmental dimension

Hubungan Corporate Social Responsibility dengan Earnings Quality pada Perusahaan yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) Periode 2016-2019

Abstract Earnings is one of some important things that company stakeholders pay attention to in making decisions related to the company. Therefore, the quality of earnings reported by companies need to be ensured that it accurately reflects tha real conditions of the company. Besides earnings, stakeholders also pay attention to corporate social responsibility activities that has been done by company as the implementation of triple bottom line concept. This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and earnings quality reported by firms. CSR is measured by using the CSRD Index based on 91 GRI criteria, while earnings quality is proxied by accrual earnings management and measured by calculating the discretionary accruals. The research object in this study is all entities listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the period of 2016-2019. After selecting companies based on predetermined sample criteria, the totals of sample numbers in this study is 191 companies in 2016-2019. The result of this study prove that there is no significant relationship between CSR and earnings quality. Keywords: corporate social responsibility, earnings quality, earnings managemen

Corporate Governance Effects on Social Responsibility Disclosures

This study uses stakeholder theory to explore how corporate governance [CG] characteristics influence corporate social responsibility disclosure [CSRD] in the context of a global financial crisis [GFC]. Empirical data are drawn from Portugal, a country strongly affected by the GFC. Portuguese companies are characterized by high ownership concentration. The largest shareholder is often the CEO and Board Chair (a phenomenon known as CEO duality). We analyse the association between CSRD (measured by a 40-item disclosure index) and CG variables (board size, CEO duality, board independence, ownership concentration and presence of an audit committee or CSR committee) for 48 of the 51 listed companies in Portugal. The control variables are company size and industry type. We find that CSRD is affected positively by board size, CEO duality, company size and industry type. This accords with suggestions implicit in stakeholder theory that a larger board will represent a broader diversity of stakeholders and will promote better monitoring, more assertive stakeholder management, greater transparency, and increased levels of CSRD. Larger companies and companies close-to-consumers are associated with high levels of CSRD, ostensibly because they are more visible and subject to greater societal monitoring during a period of financial crisis. We reveal that in a country characterized by high ownership concentration, CEO duality has a positive effect on CSRD

The Determinants Of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: Evidence From China

Employing the content analysis approach, this paper aims to identify the determinants of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) in China using the annual reports of over 800 A-share listed firms on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. We find that CSRD is positively associated with firm size, media exposure, share ownership concentration and institutional shareholding. Moreover, firms in High-Profile environmentally sensitive industries tend to disclose more corporate social responsibility (CSR) information than those in Low-Profile environmentally sensitive industries, supporting the view that political cost is the primary constraint for Chinese listed firms. Our results provide important insights for academics interested in the CSR issue in emerging economies, for enterprise managers interested in exploiting the annual reports as a strategy to legitimize their corporate social conduct, and for government regulators committed to improving CSR activities and information disclosure

Corporate social responsibility disclosure and corporate social irresponsibility in emerging economies: does institutional quality matter?

The Panama Papers (2016), Paradise Leaks (2017), and Pandora Papers (2021) have revealed the extensive practice of corporate tax avoidance. Yet, the tax behavior of companies claiming to be “socially responsible” has been less examined. This study examines the association between corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) and tax avoidance, particularly in developing economies, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). By analyzing data from 600 firm-year observations across 13 SSA countries using panel quantile regression, we found a negative relationship between CSRD, which includes ethical, social, and environmental dimensions, and tax avoidance. This aligns with legitimacy theory, indicating that firms are increasingly adopting CSR transparency to meet societal expectations and gain stakeholder trust, avoiding socially irresponsible behaviors. Furthermore, the quality of national governance significantly moderates the CSRD–tax avoidance relationship, supporting the concept of institutional isomorphism. This evidence is valuable for professionals and policymakers and encourages further research to deepen and broaden these findings

การเปิดเผยข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมของกิจการในประเทศไทย (CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DISCLOSURE IN THAILAND)

งานวิจัยเรื่องการเปิดเผยข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมของกิจการในประเทศไทยมีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาระดับการเปิดเผยข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมของบริษัทจดทะเบียนในตลาดหลักทรัพย์แห่งประเทศไทยในกลุ่ม SET 100 Index จำนวน 100 บริษัท โดยใช้แบบตรวจรายการในการประเมินระดับการเปิดเผยข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคม ซึ่งพัฒนาขึ้นมาโดยอยู่บนพื้นฐานของรายการที่ควรเปิดเผย 7 หัวข้อหลักตามมาตรฐานว่าด้วยความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคม (ISO 26000) และใช้วิธีการวิเคราะห์เชิงเนื้อหาในการวิเคราะห์ข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมโดยรวบรวมข้อมูลจากรายงานประจำปี แบบแสดงรายการข้อมูลประจำปี 56-1 และรายงานแห่งความยั่งยืนประจำปี 2554ผลการศึกษาพบว่า บริษัทในกลุ่ม SET 100 Index ส่วนใหญ่ (ร้อยละ 28) มีการเปิดเผยข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมอยู่ในระดับมากกว่า ร้อยละ 70 และร้อยละ 13 มีการเปิดเผยข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมอยู่ในระดับร้อยละ 91-100 ถ้าจำแนกการเปิดเผยข้อมูลความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคมในภาพรวม 7 หัวข้อหลักตาม ISO 26000 พบว่า บริษัททั้งหมดในกลุ่ม SET 100 Index เปิดเผยข้อมูลครบทุกประเด็นในหัวข้อ ธรรมมาภิบาล เนื่องจากสำนักงานคณะกรรมการกำกับหลักทรัพย์ตลาดหลักทรัพย์แห่งประเทศไทยมีข้อกำหนดแนวปฏิบัติในการส่งเสริมให้บริษัทจดทะเบียนมีการเปิดเผยข้อมูลการกำกับดูแลกิจการที่ดี ในแบบแสดงรายการข้อมูลประจำปี 56-1 ส่วนหัวข้อที่มีการเปิดเผยน้อยที่สุด คือหัวข้อด้านสิ่งแวดล้อม อาจเป็นไปได้ว่าบริษัทในกลุ่ม SET 100 Index จำนวนเกือบครึ่งหนึ่งอยู่ในกลุ่มอุตสาหกรรมบริการ กลุ่มอุตสาหกรรมธุรกิจการเงิน และกลุ่มธุรกิจพัฒนาอสังหาริมทรัพย์ ซึ่งมีการดำเนินงานที่มีผลกระทบต่อสิ่งแวดล้อมน้อยกว่าอุตสาหกรรมกลุ่มอื่นๆนอกจากนี้ยังพบว่าบริษัทส่วนใหญ่ในกลุ่ม SET 100 Index (ร้อยละ 79) ยังไม่มีการจัดทำรายงานแห่งความยั่งยืน โดยบริษัทที่มีการจัดทำรายงานแห่งความยั่งยืนส่วนใหญ่อยู่ในกลุ่มอุตสาหกรรมทรัพยากรคำสำคัญ: ความรับผิดชอบต่อสังคม รายงานแห่งความยั่งยืน ซีเอสอาร์ ISO 26000The purposes of this study are to identify the levels of corporate social responsibility disclosure of firms in the SET 100 Index group (100 firms) in Thailand. This study developed the checklist, consisting of 7 core subjects and 41 CSR disclosure items based on ISO 26000 guideline, as a research instrument to measure the extent of CSR disclosure and the content analysis was used to extract the CSR disclosure items from a annual report, the annual registration statement (Form 56-1) and the sustainability report (CSR report) for the year ended 2011.The results showed that the majority of firms in the SET 100 Index groups had the level of CSR disclosure index based on ISO 26000 more than 70 percent and 13.0 % had the level of CSR disclosure between 91-100%. Out of 7 core subjects of ISO 26000, this research found that all firms in the SET 100 index group had disclosed all issues in the organization governance subjects since all firms in the SET were required by office of the Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose the organization governance information in the annual registration statement. The core subject that had the lowest level of CSR disclosure is the Environment subject. It was possible that nearly half of number of firms in the SET100 index group were in the Service industry, the Financial industry and the Property & Construction industry, whose operations had less environmental impact than other industries.Besides, the majority of firms in the SET 100 index group (79%) had no sustainability reports. The majority of firms with sustainability reports were in the Resource industry.Keywords: corporate social responsibility, sustainability report, CSR, ISO 2600