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Incremental Voluntary Disclosure on Corporate Websites, Determinants and Consequences

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  • Trabelsi, Samir
  • Labelle, Réal
  • Dumontier, Pascal

Abstract

This study analyses the determinants and consequences of internet financial reporting (IFR). Our evidence indicates that firms use the internet to report complementary information on firm background, management forecasts, intangible assets and on social and environmental issues. Our results indicate that the decision to provide additional voluntary financial disclosures through corporate websites is mostly influenced by share turnover, the future profitability of the firm and the level of competition in the industry. Last, we find that the extent of voluntary disclosure on corporate websites is related positively to forecast accuracy, and negatively to the dispersion of analysts forecasts, suggesting that such disclosures provide useful information to analysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Trabelsi, Samir & Labelle, Réal & Dumontier, Pascal, 2008. "Incremental Voluntary Disclosure on Corporate Websites, Determinants and Consequences," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 120-155.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jocaae:v:4:y:2008:i:2:p:120-155
    DOI: 10.1016/S1815-5669(10)70032-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Nirosh Kuruppu & Peter Oyelere & Hamdan Al Jabri, 2015. "Internet Financial Reporting And Disclosure Practices Of Publicly Traded Corporations: Evidence From Sri Lanka," Accounting & Taxation, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 7(1), pages 75-91.
    2. Helmi A. Boshnak, 2021. "Internet Financial Reporting Practices in Saudi Arabia," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Heiko Thimm & Karsten Boye Rasmussen, 2021. "Website disclosure of environmental compliance management—the case of European production companies," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(4), pages 648-670, December.
    4. Van Geyt, Debby & Van Cauwenberge, Philippe & Vander Bauwhede, Heidi, 2014. "Does high-quality corporate communication reduce insider trading profitability?," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 1-14.
    5. Jean-François Gajewski & Li Li, 2015. "Can Internet-Based Disclosure Reduce Information Asymmetry?," Post-Print halshs-01497381, HAL.
    6. Emmanuelle Negre & Isabelle Martinez, 2012. "Une Analyse Lexicale Des Communiques De Presse Volontaires Emis Lors Des Opa/Ope : Quels Profils De Diffusion ?," Post-Print hal-00936567, HAL.
    7. Hichem Khlif & Kamran Ahmed & Mohsen Souissi, 2017. "Ownership structure and voluntary disclosure: A synthesis of empirical studies," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 42(3), pages 376-403, August.
    8. Amélia Carvalho & Marisa R. Ferreira & Sandra Lima, 2020. "Web disclosure of institutional information in nonprofit organizations: an approach in Portuguese charities," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 17(1), pages 41-58, March.
    9. Adesoji O. Adelaja & Ramyani Mukhopadhyay, 2022. "Time‐to‐completion for mergers and acquisitions in the food and agribusiness industry," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(3), pages 579-607, July.
    10. Joanna Dyczkowska, 2014. "Assessment of Quality of Internet Financial Disclosures Using a Scoring System. A Case of Polish Stock Issuers," Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems, Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 13(1), pages 50-81, March.
    11. Gajewski, Jean-François & Li, Li, 2015. "Can Internet-based disclosure reduce information asymmetry?," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 115-124.
    12. Malaquias, Rodrigo Fernandes & Zambra, Pablo, 2018. "Disclosure of financial instruments: Practices and challenges of Latin American firms from the mining industry," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 158-167.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    G14; M41; M45; O33; internet financial reporting; voluntary disclosure theory; content analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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