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Sustainable Corporate Performance Based on Audit Report Influence: An Empirical Approach through Financial Transparency and Gender Equality Dimensions

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  • Ionuț Viorel Herghiligiu

    (Faculty of Industrial Design and Business Management, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași, 700050 Iași, Romania
    Academy of Romanian Scientists, 3 Ilfov, 050044 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ioan-Bogdan Robu

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700505 Iași, Romania)

  • Marinela Istrate

    (Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700505 Iasi, Romania)

  • Maria Grosu

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, 700505 Iași, Romania)

  • Camelia Cătălina Mihalciuc

    (Faculty of Economics, Administration and Business, Stefan Cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania)

  • Adrian Vilcu

    (Faculty of Industrial Design and Business Management, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași, 700050 Iași, Romania)

Abstract

Social, economic and environmental factors contribute to the companies’ sustainable development. Social and financial dimensions have an important contribution to sustainable performance, through assurance of transparency in the information communication requested by stakeholders in order to substantiate their decisions. Social transparency is ensured by presenting organization’s actions in the field of social responsibility, and financial transparency takes into account the most accurate, complete and neutral presentation of information, both in the annual financial statements and in the audit reports. The present study aims to assess the influence of financial transparency and gender equality on the sustainable corporate performance, thus contributing to increasing SDGs awareness and achievement required by 2030 Agenda. Through a sample of 1133 observations (Romanian listed companies/years) to the period 2008–2020, the obtained research results emphasis that gender equality and absence/presence of transparency in financial reporting have a significant influence on corporate sustainable performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Ionuț Viorel Herghiligiu & Ioan-Bogdan Robu & Marinela Istrate & Maria Grosu & Camelia Cătălina Mihalciuc & Adrian Vilcu, 2023. "Sustainable Corporate Performance Based on Audit Report Influence: An Empirical Approach through Financial Transparency and Gender Equality Dimensions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-28, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:14033-:d:1245068
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