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Does Corporate Governance Affect Sustainability Disclosure? A Mixed Methods Study

Author

Listed:
  • Zeeshan Mahmood

    (Department of Commerce, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan)

  • Rehana Kouser

    (Department of Commerce, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan)

  • Waris Ali

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Sahiwal, Sahiwal 57000, Pakistan)

  • Zubair Ahmad

    (Institute of Management Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan)

  • Tahira Salman

    (Department of Commerce, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan)

Abstract

This research paper aims to understand the impact of corporate governance (CG) on economic, social, and environmental sustainability disclosures. This paper adopted an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach. The data regarding corporate governance and sustainability disclosure were collected from top 100 companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE) for the period ranging from 2012 to 2015. In addition to the quantitative data, we collected qualitative data through interviews with five board members of different companies. Overall, our results indicate that CG elements enhance sustainability disclosures. This study concludes that a large board size consisting of a female director and a CSR committee (CSRC) is better able to check and control management decisions regarding sustainability issues (be they economic, environment, or social) and resulted in better sustainability disclosure. This paper, through quantitative and qualitative analysis, provides a methodological and empirical contribution to the literature on corporate governance and sustainability reporting in emerging and developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeeshan Mahmood & Rehana Kouser & Waris Ali & Zubair Ahmad & Tahira Salman, 2018. "Does Corporate Governance Affect Sustainability Disclosure? A Mixed Methods Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-20, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:1:p:207-:d:127138
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    References listed on IDEAS

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