The Relevance of Sustainability Reporting and Assurance: A Global Perspective

This paper examines the factors and determinants of sustainability reporting and assurance (SRA) worldwide. We perform descriptive and regression analyses in determining the trends in quality and quantity of SRA and determinants of SRA using the Global Reporting Initiative database from 2005-2016. We find: (1) the quantity and quality of SRA have significantly increased worldwide in the past decade; (2) a positive association between the quality and quantity of SRA and sustainability disclosure, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); (3) sustainability reporting quantity and quality are significantly associated with legal, social, ethical and environmental factors. Our results provide insight to both factors and determinants of SRA, which shed light in identifying the nature and benefits of SRA in the voluntary disclosure literature. Our findings are relevant to current debates among global policymakers, regulators, standard-setters, the business community, and the accounting profession in improving the quantity and quality of SRA

A Sustainability Accounting: Case Study on Exploration, Production and Midstream Activities at Maersk Oil

This paper gives a short introduction to sustainable accounting and its essential measurement problems. The greatest challenge seems to be how companies should create sustainability reports that achieve the demands for transparency and accuracy. Because the current frameworks vary considerably, the development of standards and guidance to report sustainability will most likely continue to evolve. This study proposes a model to Maersk Company allowing them to use a sustainability accounting framework as guidance for disclosure of material sustainability and accounting metrics to determine sustainability-related risks and opportunities it faces using the sustainability accounting standard for the oil and gas industries, particular to exploration, production and midstream activities. Keywords: Sustainability Accounting, Measurement Problems, Oil and Gas Industries JEL Classifications: M40, Q56, Q54, L7

Determinants of Corporate Financial Factors on Tax Reporting Strategy

The primary objective of present study is to analyze the effects of financial factors on financial and tax reporting decisions. The statistical population of present study includes all companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange out of which 438 companies are included in the statistical sample of present study. The results suggests that there is a significant positive association between debt ratio and aggressive financial reporting. In addition, there is a significant negative association between debt ratio and aggressive tax reporting. Keywords: Debt Ratio, Long-term Debt Ratio, Aggressive Financial Reporting, Aggressive Tax Reporting. JEL Classifications: M4; H25; H

Caregiver-related predictors of thermal burn injuries among Iranian children: a case-control study

Purpose Burns are a common and preventable cause of injury in children. The aim of this study was to investigate child and caregiver characteristics which may predict childhood burn injuries among Iranian children and to examine whether confounding exists among these predictors. Methods A hospital based case-control study was conducted using 281 burn victims and 273 hospital-based controls, which were matched by age, gender and place of residence (rural/urban). The characteristics of the children and their caregivers were analyzed using crude and adjusted models to test whether these were predictors of childhood burn injuries. Results The age of the caregiver was significantly lower for burn victims than for the controls (P<0.05). Further, the amount of time the caregiver spent outdoors with the child and their economic status had a significant positive association with the odds of a burn injury (P<0.05). A multivariate logistic regression found that Type A behaviour among caregivers was independently associated with the child's odds of suffering a burn injury (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04–1.21). The research also found that children with ADHD (Inattentive subscale: Crude OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.16–3.95, Adjusted OR = 5.65, 95% CI: 2.53–12.61; Hyperactive subscale: Crude OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.23–2.41, Adjusted OR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.65–3.87) also had increased odds of suffering a burn injury. However, several variables were identified as possible negative confounder variables, as the associations were stronger in the multivariate model than in the crude models

Internet-Based Compulsory Information Disclosure by Listed Companies in Tehran Stock Exchange

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of the industry concentration on the internet-based compulsory information disclosure with respect to the control variables of the firm size, industry, profitability and leverage and independent or non-executive independent board. Statistical population of the study is the firms accepted in Tehran Stock Market, 230 firms were selected omission during 2010-2011period as the statistical sample and their information was investigated. In this study, the data required to test research hypotheses were collected by a field method through financial statements and notes associated with stock firms and accepted firms web site, then they were created and processed in the form of databases in excel and finally the data and research variables were analyzed using EVIEWS Software. In this study, the researcher analyzed the effect of industry concentration on the information compulsory index. The results show that the industry concentration, the firm size, profitability, leverage and the other industries except the energy and service sector have a significant effect on the compulsory information index but there is no effect for the independent or non-executive independent board

The Social Capital and Cash Holdings in an Emerging Economy

The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between social capital and cash holdings in firms. The population under study comprises all listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. A total of 175 firms (1050 year-firm) were selected from 2014 to 2020 to evaluate the relationship between variables using the systematic elimination method. Moreover, the moderating role of financial reporting quality in the relationship between social capital and cash holdings was also studied. This paper used multivariable linear regression (panel data) and the EViews software to implement the study’s objectives. The present study results show a negative relationship between the social capital of firms and cash holdings and a positive association between social capital and financial reporting quality. In other words, cash holdings drop with the increase in social capital. Further, financial reporting quality improves with the increase in social capital. The financial reporting quality moderates the relationship between the social capital of firms and cash holdings. This paper indicates that the region’s social capital, where the firm is located, has a significant role in contributing to its cash value. The current study is the first to assess social capital structure in the cash holdings literature. The impacts of social capital contribute to financial outputs. Social capital has a positive economic result against strong cooperation norms and dense social networks. Few studies analyzed the effect of social capital on firms’ decision making. In this area, the present study contributes to the literature development and the impact of social capital on firms’ results

The role of accounting accruals’ for information content of earning and cash flows for Malaysia Public Listed companies

Godkänd; 2013; 20130925 (malinm

Integration of real-time analysis of big data into sustainability attributes

The use real-time analysis of big data necessitates auditors modify their evidence-gathering procedures of employing continuous auditing in assuring sustainability attributes. We suggest a model that integrates assurance and its continuous auditing into all five economic, governance, social, ethical and environmental (EGSEE) dimensions of sustainability performance reporting. Real-time analysis of big data facilitates more transparent and timely available information for auditors to perform procedures provide reasonable assurance on accuracy, consistency and completeness of information. Big Data is often referred to as electronic data and is the capability of accessing, analysing, and assessing a huge amount of data and transforming them into information in a timely manner for decision making. The application of Big Data and Data Science Analytics to auditing is currently at an early stage. This study examines the real-time analysis of big data, which including evidence-gathering procedures and tests on audit and assurance services for sustainability attributes. We provide policy, practical and educational implications of employing real-time analysis of big data for sustainability performance as the implementation of continues auditing

Environmental, Social and Governance Sustainability Disclosures: Evidence from EU and US

We examine whether higher levels of environmental, social, and governance (ESG)sustainability disclosures are attained under voluntary or mandatory disclosure regimes.We use the regulatory differences between the United States (US) and European Union(EU) settings, as firms in the US are currently disclosing ESG information on a voluntarybasis, whereas their counterparts in the EU are required to disclose such informationstarting fiscal year 2017. Drawing on a sample of 2563 firm-year observations from theUS and EU in a period from 2007-2019, we report three main findings: (1) for the fullsample period, EU firms have an overall higher ESG disclosure relative to US firms; (2)EU firms outperform US firms under voluntary disclosure requirements (2007-2016); (3)after 2017, the ESG disclosure of EU firms further improves relative to US firms. Takentogether, our results suggest that the 2017 adoption of disclosure guidelines in the EU isassociated with improvements in EU firms’ ESG disclosure. We contribute to theliterature by examining ESG disclosure under voluntary and mandatory regimes andwhether the EU disclosure guidance has influenced disclosure of non-financial ESGsustainability information. Our results are robust after performing additional analyses inaddressing potential endogeneity concerns. Overall, our findings have policy, practical,and research implications, as they underscore the importance of more rigorous ESG sustainability disclosures