Social and Environmental Reporting

Arrangements for corporate social and environmental reporting are seen as lacking credibility, largely due to the absence of any guarantee of completeness, comparability, consistency of measurement, and credible external verification. Stakeholders find it difficult to interpret CSR disclosures on a systematic basis because of the mainly voluntary nature of such reporting, and the general lack of standardisation in this area. From a rigorous academic perspective, Riham Rizk sets out, in this major contribution to the Corporate Social Responsibility Series, how legal and accounting frameworks fail to deliver what they might and why the limitations of past research into this subject mean that only the most obvious trends in disclosure practices have previously been identified and understood. Social and Environmental Reporting advances understanding of CSR disclosure practices in developed, less developed, and developing countries. Based on research in a number of different countries, each representative of a part of the overall picture, Dr Rizk seeks to answer a list of questions: What CSR related disclosures are being made voluntarily by listed corporations? In addition to annual reports, what, if any, CSR disclosures are being made? Do disclosures differ by reporting medium? Do disclosures differ based on ownership type? What cultural aspects influence the reporting decision? The answers to these questions serve to considerably broaden understanding, particularly of how socio-economic factors impact a country's financial accounting and reporting in general and social and ethical disclosures in particular. At a time when public and investor opinion is that requirements and standards cannot be too high, those having responsibilities for their organizations' reporting and those in a stakeholder role will appreciate this enlightening book, as well as those with research interests and students of business, accountancy, or environmental issues.