CSR disclosure, board characteristics and country-level culture

Event Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure is of strategic importance, and must be considered by the board of directors.

We overcome several methodological weaknesses, analyse a large multi-country sample, and control for CSR performance, in order to yield reliable results on the association between board characteristics and CSR disclosure.

We find that four board characteristics are positively associated with CSR disclosure (board activity, optimal size, independence level, and independence policy), while two are negatively associated (CEO chair, and length of tenure).

Second, we find that country culture is a significant determinant of CSR disclosure, particularly the cultural dimensions of individualism, masculinity, and a long term orientation.

Third, we find culture impacts the association between CSR disclosure and board characteristics. For example, the presence of women on boards is only relevant for CSR disclosures in countries with specific cultural traits.

Booking

This is an open event; there is no need to book. Please feel free to attend and bring your colleagues, classmates and friends.

Speaker bio

Professor Ana Marques is an accounting professor at the Norwich Business School (UEA). She holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. She teaches (or has taught) Financial Reporting, Research methods, Corporate Governance, Financial Accounting, and Managerial Accounting.

Her research interests include voluntary financial disclosures in capital markets, corporate social responsibility, corporate governance and international accounting. She has published in these topics in academic journals such as Review of Accounting Studies, European Accounting Review, Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Accounting Horizons, Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance, The International Journal of Accounting, Accounting and Business Research and The British Accounting Review.

She serves on the council of the American Accounting Association (AAA), and on the AAA’s global engagement committee. She is also a member of the financial reporting standards committee of the European Accounting Association (EAA) and of the scientific committee of the annual congress of the EAA.