Corporate reporting on corruption: An international comparison. Issue 4 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barkemeyer, Ralf; Preuss, Lutz; Lee, Lindsay
• Is Part Of: Accounting forum. Volume 39:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 349
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Anti-corruption -- Institutional theory -- International comparison -- Organizational fields -- Sustainability reporting; Accounting -- Australia -- Periodicals; Comptabilité -- Australie -- Périodiques; Finances de l'entreprise; Australie; 657.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2015.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0155-9982

Abstract

Highlights: We explore anti-corruption disclosures as part of corporate sustainability reports. We identify country- and sector level differences in anti-corruption reporting. However, companies that are at greater risk of corruption report less on the issue. Participation in anti-corruption initiatives has a positive impact on reporting. Our results cast doubt on the usefulness of voluntary anti-corruption disclosures. Abstract: Building on an institutionalist framework of the various organizational field-level pressures on firms to engage with the challenge of corruption, we analyse anti-corruption disclosures across a sample of 933 sustainability reports. Such reporting complements anti-corruption initiatives, as it allows the company to demonstrate its commitment. Our results show clear country- and sector-level differences in the extent to which companies communicate their anti-corruption engagement. However, the more a company is exposed to corruption, the less likely it appears to openly communicate its anti-corruption engagement. Hence, our results cast doubt on the effectiveness of anti-corruption disclosures as part of wider sustainability reporting.