A longitudinal study of corporate social disclosures in a developing economy
A longitudinal study of corporate social disclosures in a developing economy
This paper examines corporate social disclosures (CSD) in an African developing economy (Mauritius) as provided in the annual reports of listed companies from 2004 to 2007. Informed by the country’s social, political and economic context and legitimacy theory, we hypothesise that the extent and variety of CSD themes (social, ethics, environment and health and safety) will be enhanced post 2004 and will be influenced by profitability, size, leverage and industry affiliation. We find a significant increase in the volume and variety of CSD although information in relation to social activities remains the most prominent form of disclosure. This is in contrast to previous studies which reported on the primacy of employee disclosures in developing countries. Using a pooled regression analysis, we also observe that size does explain variations in overall CSD and social disclosures whilst leverage is positively related to changes in environmental and health and safety disclosures. There is no profitability relationship and the effects of industry affiliation on CSD are non-significant or contrary to expectations. Overall, we assert that legitimacy, as a strategic and managerially-driven approach favoring symbolic actions, is the prevailing motivation underlying the progression of CSD in Mauritius.
545-558
Mahadeo, Jyoti D.
50c1116c-d4a7-48da-aea9-50a1dd75c459
Oogarah-Hanuman, Vanisha
61b190f2-eb5e-4dbb-a4f9-a11300c9ec12
Soobaroyen, Teerooven
6686e2f8-564f-4f7f-b079-9dc8a2f53a48
December 2011
Mahadeo, Jyoti D.
50c1116c-d4a7-48da-aea9-50a1dd75c459
Oogarah-Hanuman, Vanisha
61b190f2-eb5e-4dbb-a4f9-a11300c9ec12
Soobaroyen, Teerooven
6686e2f8-564f-4f7f-b079-9dc8a2f53a48
Mahadeo, Jyoti D., Oogarah-Hanuman, Vanisha and Soobaroyen, Teerooven
(2011)
A longitudinal study of corporate social disclosures in a developing economy.
Journal of Business Ethics, 104 (4), .
(doi:10.1007/s10551-011-0929-3).
Abstract
This paper examines corporate social disclosures (CSD) in an African developing economy (Mauritius) as provided in the annual reports of listed companies from 2004 to 2007. Informed by the country’s social, political and economic context and legitimacy theory, we hypothesise that the extent and variety of CSD themes (social, ethics, environment and health and safety) will be enhanced post 2004 and will be influenced by profitability, size, leverage and industry affiliation. We find a significant increase in the volume and variety of CSD although information in relation to social activities remains the most prominent form of disclosure. This is in contrast to previous studies which reported on the primacy of employee disclosures in developing countries. Using a pooled regression analysis, we also observe that size does explain variations in overall CSD and social disclosures whilst leverage is positively related to changes in environmental and health and safety disclosures. There is no profitability relationship and the effects of industry affiliation on CSD are non-significant or contrary to expectations. Overall, we assert that legitimacy, as a strategic and managerially-driven approach favoring symbolic actions, is the prevailing motivation underlying the progression of CSD in Mauritius.
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Published date: December 2011
Organisations:
Centre of Excellence in Decision, Analytics & Risk Research
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Local EPrints ID: 189695
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/189695
ISSN: 0167-4544
PURE UUID: 33645785-60e6-4458-9a6b-bcea4782dd8b
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Date deposited: 06 Jun 2011 08:01
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:35
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Author:
Jyoti D. Mahadeo
Author:
Vanisha Oogarah-Hanuman
Author:
Teerooven Soobaroyen
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