Intellectual engagements of accounting academics: The 'forecasted losses' intervention

This paper explores the social and political potential of accounting scholarship, presenting and discussing an intellectual intervention challenging a legislative reform that significantly affected Spanish industrial relations. In this reform, an accounting artifact (forecasted losses) played an unexpected role and was misrepresented, prompting a sizeable number of scholars to sign two manifestos in 2010 and 2012 against the use of forecasted losses made by the new legislation. As promoters of this manifesto, we perform in this paper a collaborative autoethnography to reflect on the context, events, reactions, and significance of this intervention for both the academic and the industrial relations fields. We mobilize Pierre Bourdieu’s ideas on the public intellectual to think more generally about academic engagements in the interplay between accounting, policymaking, and social issues. This intervention illustrates the different manners in which administrative and economic powers interfered in the Spanish accounting academic field, limiting the disposition of Spanish scholars to engage in public debates. We also interpret our engagement as mobilizing intellectual capital to expose how the notion of forecasted losses was used to produce a form of symbolic violence and how this capital is more effective as it produces messages addressed to the producers, i.e., policymakers and the judicature in this specific case

Intellectual engagements of accounting academics: The ‘forecasted losses' intervention

This paper explores the social and political potential of accounting scholarship, presenting and discussing an intellectual intervention challenging a legislative reform that significantly affected Spanish industrial relations. In this reform, an accounting artifact (forecasted losses) played an unexpected role and was misrepresented, prompting a sizeable number of scholars to sign two manifestos in 2010 and 2012 against the use of forecasted losses made by the new legislation. As promoters of this manifesto, we perform in this paper a collaborative autoethnography to reflect on the context, events, reactions, and significance of this intervention for both the academic and the industrial relations fields. We mobilize Pierre Bourdieu’s ideas on the public intellectual to think more generally about academic engagements in the interplay between accounting, policymaking, and social issues. This intervention illustrates the different manners in which administrative and economic powers interfered in the Spanish accounting academic field, limiting the disposition of Spanish scholars to engage in public debates. We also interpret our engagement as mobilizing intellectual capital to expose how the notion of forecasted losses was used to produce a form of symbolic violence and how this capital is more effective as it produces messages addressed to the producers, i.e., policymakers and the judicature in this specific case.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, FEDER and Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León (Grants RTI2018-099920-B-I00 and BU058P17)

Evolucion de la inversion publicitaria en España. Un estudio de los consecuencias de la crisis económica.

El presente trabajo investiga la influencia de la evolución del PIB en la inversión publicitaria en España para el periodo comprendido entre 1995 y 2014. Con este propósito se ha estudiado el comportamiento de las diferentes variables de inversión publicitaria antes y durante la crisis económica. En primer lugar se ha analizado la evolución de cada una de las variables de inversión publicitaria para, posteriormente, analizar las evoluciones de sus ciclos en relación al ciclo del PIB. Finalmente se ha estudiado la conexión entre inversión publicitaria y el PIB. El estudio revela que la inversión en publicidad es influenciada por la evolución del PIB durante estos años, creciendo a niveles del PIB hasta 2007, para, a partir de 2008, año en el que se inicia la crisis, sufrir una importante desaceleración. El estudio también evidencia la particular situación de la inversión en Internet como medio publicitario, ya que este medio no se ve afectado por el ciclo económico y prácticamente en todos los años de estudio mantiene niveles de crecimiento sobresalientes

The crisis of accounting valuation in cognitive capitalism

El declive del fordismo como modo mayoritario de regulación de la producción económica está dando paso a otros modelos en los que el trabajo inmaterial aparece como una de las principales fuentes de creación del valor. En este contexto, la medición fiable del valor y del resultado empresarial constituye uno de los mayores retos a los que se enfrenta la comunidad contable. La adopción internacional del modelo contable del IASB, con la hegemonía del valor razonable como criterio preferente de valoración, se interpreta como un paso más en la búsqueda de expropiación y privatización del valor producido por el trabajo inmaterial y que correspondería al común. A partir de las construcciones teóricas desarrolladas por Lazzarato y Negri (1997) y Hardt y Negri (2000 y 2004), este trabajo identifica dos tipos de causas (externas e internas a la contabilidad) que explican las dificultades en la medición del valor generado por el trabajo inmaterial en la época del capitalismo cognitivo. Por ello, los criterios convencionales de valoración contable (coste histórico y valor razonable), surgidos previamente en la evolución histórica del capitalismo, resultan inadecuados para captar y representar el valor de la producción inmaterial.The decline in Fordism as the principal form of regulating economic production has seen the rise of other models in which immaterial labor constitutes one of the principal sources of value creation. One of the most important challenges facing the accounting community is the reliable measure of value and of the results of business activity. The universal adoption of the IASB model, which privileges fair value as the preferred criterion of valuation, is interpreted as a further step towards accounting for the expropriation and privatization of the value produced by immaterial labor, equivalent to the concept of the common. Guided by the theoretical constructs of Lazzarato and Negri (1997) and Hardt and Negri (2000 and 2004), the research identifies two kinds of cause (internal and external to accounting) that explain the difficulties in measuring value accruing from immaterial labor in the era of cognitive capitalism. Thus, the conventional criteria of accounting valuation (historical cost and fair value), which emerged in earlier phases of the history of capitalism, prove inadequate to the challenge of capturing and representing the value of immaterial production.El Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad español, a través del proyecto ECO2012-33121, suministró ayuda financiera para la realización de este trabajo

Assessing the Sustainability of High-Value Brands in the IT Sector

[EN] Nowadays, companies have more freedom on how they can report their corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions and outcomes, despite them being increasingly important for how investors and shareholders can obtain knowledge about companies¿ non-financial aspects. This is why more importance is being attached to sustainability rankings as an additional tool to seek excellence and distinguish between companies. The main objective of the present research was to analyze the degree of similarity in sustainability valuations among the most important open-access sustainability rankings that have appeared in the last decade (Green Ranking, RepTrack, Global 100 most sustainable corporations, and Finance Yahoo Sustainability). The secondary objective was to study whether these rankings incorporated the most de facto prestigious brands, and the third objective was to learn of the influence of the level of controversy in Finance Yahoo Sustainability scores in technological companies. Our results reveal wide variability among open-access CSR rankings. Not all the most valued brands appear in the sustainability rankings, which indicates the differences between the rankings of brands and CSR rankings. Finally, the level of controversy was found to be an important aspect in companies¿ CSR scores.Alcaide González, MÁ.; De La Poza, E.; Guadalajara Olmeda, MN. (2019). Assessing the Sustainability of High-Value Brands in the IT Sector. Sustainability. 11(6):1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061598S120116Abreu, M. C. S. de, Cunha, L. T. da, & Barlow, C. Y. (2014). Institutional dynamics and organizations affecting the adoption of sustainable development in the United Kingdom and Brazil. Business Ethics: A European Review, 24(1), 73-90. doi:10.1111/beer.12074Choi, Y., & Yu, Y. (2014). The Influence of Perceived Corporate Sustainability Practices on Employees and Organizational Performance. Sustainability, 6(1), 348-364. doi:10.3390/su6010348Hahn, R., & Kühnen, M. (2013). Determinants of sustainability reporting: a review of results, trends, theory, and opportunities in an expanding field of research. Journal of Cleaner Production, 59, 5-21. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.07.005Lozano, R. (2013). A Holistic Perspective on Corporate Sustainability Drivers. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 22(1), 32-44. doi:10.1002/csr.1325Maletič, M., Maletič, D., Dahlgaard, J. J., Dahlgaard-Park, S. M., & Gomišček, B. (2014). Sustainability exploration and sustainability exploitation: from a literature review towards a conceptual framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 79, 182-194. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.05.045Montiel, I., & Delgado-Ceballos, J. (2014). Defining and Measuring Corporate Sustainability. Organization & Environment, 27(2), 113-139. doi:10.1177/1086026614526413Schneider, A., & Meins, E. (2011). Two Dimensions of Corporate Sustainability Assessment: Towards a Comprehensive Framework. Business Strategy and the Environment, 21(4), 211-222. doi:10.1002/bse.726Liang, X., Zhao, X., Wang, M., & Li, Z. (2018). Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Sustainable Supply Chain Financing Decision Based on Triple Bottom Line Theory. Sustainability, 10(11), 4242. doi:10.3390/su10114242La medición y la comunicación de la RSE: Indicadores y normas. Cuadernos de la Cátedra “La Caixa” de Responsabilidad Social de la Empresa y Gobierno Corporativo, 9. Pamplona, 2010: IESE Busines School—Universidad de Navarrahttps://studylib.es/doc/5989799/la-medici%C3%B3n-y-la-comunicaci%C3%B3n-de-la-rse--indicadores-y-noDing, D. K., Ferreira, C., & Wongchoti, U. (2016). Does it pay to be different? Relative CSR and its impact on firm value. International Review of Financial Analysis, 47, 86-98. doi:10.1016/j.irfa.2016.06.013Kao, E. H., Yeh, C.-C., Wang, L.-H., & Fung, H.-G. (2018). The relationship between CSR and performance: Evidence in China. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 51, 155-170. doi:10.1016/j.pacfin.2018.04.006Torres, A., Bijmolt, T. H. A., Tribó, J. A., & Verhoef, P. (2012). Generating global brand equity through corporate social responsibility to key stakeholders. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 29(1), 13-24. doi:10.1016/j.ijresmar.2011.10.002Sharfman, M. (1996). The construct validity of the Kinder, Lydenberg & Domini social performance ratings data. Journal of Business Ethics, 15(3), 287-296. doi:10.1007/bf00382954Chatterji, A. K., Levine, D. I., & Toffel, M. W. (2009). How Well Do Social Ratings Actually Measure Corporate Social Responsibility? Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 18(1), 125-169. doi:10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00210.xChatterji, A., & Levine, D. (2006). Breaking down the Wall of Codes: Evaluating Non-Financial Performance Measurement. California Management Review, 48(2), 29-51. doi:10.2307/41166337Delmas, M., & Blass, V. D. (2010). Measuring corporate environmental performance: the trade-offs of sustainability ratings. Business Strategy and the Environment, 19(4), 245-260. doi:10.1002/bse.676Windolph, S. E. (2011). Assessing Corporate Sustainability Through Ratings: Challenges and Their Causes. Journal of Environmental Sustainability, 1(1), 1-22. doi:10.14448/jes.01.0005Searcy, C., & Elkhawas, D. (2012). Corporate sustainability ratings: an investigation into how corporations use the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Journal of Cleaner Production, 35, 79-92. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.05.022American Marketing Associationhttps://www.ama.org/resources/Pages/Dictionary.aspx?dLetter=BKamakura, W. A., & Russell, G. J. (1993). Measuring brand value with scanner data. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 10(1), 9-22. doi:10.1016/0167-8116(93)90030-3Keller, K. L. (1993). Conceptualizing, Measuring, and Managing Customer-Based Brand Equity. Journal of Marketing, 57(1), 1-22. doi:10.1177/002224299305700101Erdem, T., & Swait, J. (1998). Brand Equity as a Signaling Phenomenon. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 7(2), 131-157. doi:10.1207/s15327663jcp0702_02Salinas, G., & Ambler, T. (2009). A taxonomy of brand valuation practice: Methodologies and purposes. Journal of Brand Management, 17(1), 39-61. doi:10.1057/bm.2009.14Simon, C. J., & Sullivan, M. W. (1993). The Measurement and Determinants of Brand Equity: A Financial Approach. Marketing Science, 12(1), 28-52. doi:10.1287/mksc.12.1.28Majerova, J., & Kliestik, T. (2015). Brand Valuation as an Immanent Component of Brand Value Building and Managing. Procedia Economics and Finance, 26, 546-552. doi:10.1016/s2212-5671(15)00953-3Johansson, J. K., Dimofte, C. V., & Mazvancheryl, S. K. (2012). The performance of global brands in the 2008 financial crisis: A test of two brand value measures. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 29(3), 235-245. doi:10.1016/j.ijresmar.2012.01.002Ratnatunga, J., & Ewing, M. T. (2009). An ex-ante approach to brand capability valuation. Journal of Business Research, 62(3), 323-331. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2008.04.003Interbrandhttps://www.interbrand.com/best-brands/Kantar Millward Brownhttp://www.millwardbrown.com/brandz/rankings-and-reportsThe Brand Finance Grouphttp://brandfinance.com/knowledge-centre/reports/brand-finance-global-500-2018/Jones, T. M., & Wicks, A. C. (1999). Convergent Stakeholder Theory. Academy of Management Review, 24(2), 206-221. doi:10.5465/amr.1999.1893929Donaldson, T. (1999). Response: Making Stakeholder Theory Whole. The Academy of Management Review, 24(2), 237. doi:10.2307/259079Margolis, J. D., & Walsh, J. P. (2003). Misery Loves Companies: Rethinking Social Initiatives by Business. Administrative Science Quarterly, 48(2), 268. doi:10.2307/3556659Lai, C.-S., Chiu, C.-J., Yang, C.-F., & Pai, D.-C. (2010). The Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Brand Performance: The Mediating Effect of Industrial Brand Equity and Corporate Reputation. Journal of Business Ethics, 95(3), 457-469. doi:10.1007/s10551-010-0433-1Fijałkowska, J., Zyznarska-Dworczak, B., & Garsztka, P. (2018). Corporate Social-Environmental Performance versus Financial Performance of Banks in Central and Eastern European Countries. Sustainability, 10(3), 772. doi:10.3390/su10030772Jones, R. (2005). Finding sources of brand value: Developing a stakeholder model of brand equity. Journal of Brand Management, 13(1), 10-32. doi:10.1057/palgrave.bm.2540243Grubor, A., & Milovanov, O. (2017). Brand Strategies in the Era of Sustainability. Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 15(1), 78-88. doi:10.7906/indecs.15.1.6McWilliams, A., Siegel, D. S., & Wright, P. M. (2006). Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategic Implications*. Journal of Management Studies, 43(1), 1-18. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6486.2006.00580.xSiano, A., Conte, F., Amabile, S., Vollero, A., & Piciocchi, P. (2016). Communicating Sustainability: An Operational Model for Evaluating Corporate Websites. Sustainability, 8(9), 950. doi:10.3390/su8090950Herrick, C., & Pratt, J. (2013). Communication and the Narrative Basis of Sustainability: Observations from the Municipal Water Sector. Sustainability, 5(10), 4428-4443. doi:10.3390/su5104428Seele, P., & Lock, I. (2014). Instrumental and/or Deliberative? A Typology of CSR Communication Tools. Journal of Business Ethics, 131(2), 401-414. doi:10.1007/s10551-014-2282-9Illia, L., Romenti, S., Rodríguez-Cánovas, B., Murtarelli, G., & Carroll, C. E. (2015). Exploring Corporations’ Dialogue About CSR in the Digital Era. Journal of Business Ethics, 146(1), 39-58. doi:10.1007/s10551-015-2924-6Fernandez-Feijoo, B., Romero, S., & Ruiz, S. (2014). Commitment to Corporate social responsibility measured through global reporting initiative reporting: factors affecting the behavior of companies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 81, 244-254. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.06.034Reputation, Corporate Social Responsibility and Market Regulation. Tijdschrift voor Economie en Management No. XLIXhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/41459436Vollero, A., Conte, F., Siano, A., & Covucci, C. (2018). Corporate social responsibility information and involvement strategies in controversial industries. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 26(1), 141-151. doi:10.1002/csr.1666Waller, D. S. (2005). A Proposed Response Model for Controversial Advertising. Journal of Promotion Management, 11(2-3), 3-15. doi:10.1300/j057v11n02_02Hasseldine, J., Salama, A. I., & Toms, J. S. (2005). Quantity versus quality: the impact of environmental disclosures on the reputations of UK Plcs. The British Accounting Review, 37(2), 231-248. doi:10.1016/j.bar.2004.10.003Kilian, T., & Hennigs, N. (2014). Corporate social responsibility and environmental reporting in controversial industries. European Business Review, 26(1), 79-101. doi:10.1108/ebr-04-2013-0080Cai, Y., Jo, H., & Pan, C. (2011). Doing Well While Doing Bad? CSR in Controversial Industry Sectors. Journal of Business Ethics, 108(4), 467-480. doi:10.1007/s10551-011-1103-7Byrd, J. W., Hickman, K., Baker, C. R., & COHANIER, B. (2017). Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in Controversial Industries. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2894789Bagna, E., Dicuonzo, G., Perrone, A., & Dell’Atti, V. (2017). The value relevance of brand valuation. Applied Economics, 49(58), 5865-5876. doi:10.1080/00036846.2017.1352078Newsweekhttps://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-green-rankings-2017-methodology-739761Reputation Institutehttps://www.reputationinstitute.com/csr-reptrakYahoo Finance Expands Offerings as Only Free Provider of Sustainability Scores, Across Desktop and Mobile Webhttps://www.sustainalytics.com/press-release/yahoo-finance- adds-sustainability-scores/Corporate Knightshttps://www.corporateknights.com/reports/global-100/It’s Not So Complicated—Facebook And Sustainabilityhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/benkepes/2014/10/10/its-not-so-complicated-facebook-and-sustainability/#3b7988fc9f6

Corporate social responsibility: The disclosure-performance gap

As increased stakeholder pressure requires companies to be transparent about their CSR practices, it is essential to know how reliable corporate disclosure mechanisms are, testing the gap between corporate social responsibility claims and actual practice. This study benchmarks corporate social responsibility policies and practices of ten international hotel groups of particular importance to the European leisure market. We found that corporate systems are not necessarily reflective of actual operations, environmental performance is eco-savings driven, labour policies aim to comply with local legislation, socio-economic policies are inward looking with little acceptance of impacts on the destination, and customer engagement is limited. Generally larger hotel groups have more comprehensive policies but also greater gaps in implementation, while the smaller hotel groups focus only on environmental management and deliver what they promised. As the first survey of its kind in tourism, both the methodology and the findings have implications for further research. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Tracking habitus across a transnational professional field

The sociology of the professions has shied away from cross-national comparative work. Yet research in different professional jurisdictions emphasizes the transnational nature of professional fields. Further work is therefore needed that explores the extent to which transnational professional fields are characterized by unity or heterogeneity. To that end, this article presents the results of a qualitative interrogation of the habitus of partners in ‘Big 4’ professional service firms across, primarily, five countries (Bangladesh, Canada, France, Spain and the UK). Marked differences are observed between the partner habitus in Bangladesh and the other countries studied in terms of entrepreneurial and public service dispositions. In turn, these findings highlight the methodological relevance of habitus for both the sociology of the professions and comparative capitalism literatures: for the former, habitus aids in mapping the dynamics of transnational professional fields; for the latter, habitus can elucidate the informal norms and conventions of national business systems