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Multilevel Approach to Sustainability Report Assurance Decisions

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  • Belen Fernandez-Feijoo
  • Silvia Romero
  • Silvia Ruiz

Abstract

type="main"> Using generalised linear mixed models as a statistical tool, this paper analyses the factors that explain the decision of a company to assure their sustainability report and of the choice of a Big 4 auditor as assuror. Specifically, we investigate the variables that affect the two dependent variables, existence of assurance and the profile of the assuror, at two different levels: the characteristics of the reporting company, and the country in which the company is located. Previous literature has explained this relationship as the result of linear regression models, considering only the fixed effects of the factors. Taking into account random effects, we are able to arrive at more precise conclusions on the effect of country (legal tradition and European membership) and company variables (size, public or non-public, industry and integrated reporting), on the existence of assurance and the profile of the assuror.

Suggested Citation

  • Belen Fernandez-Feijoo & Silvia Romero & Silvia Ruiz, 2015. "Multilevel Approach to Sustainability Report Assurance Decisions," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 25(4), pages 346-358, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ausact:v:25:y:2015:i:4:p:346-358
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martínez-Ferrero, Jennifer & García-Sánchez, Isabel-María, 2017. "Coercive, normative and mimetic isomorphism as determinants of the voluntary assurance of sustainability reports," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 102-118.
    2. Vaz Ogando, Natalia & Ruiz Blanco, Silvia & Fernandez-Feijoo Souto, Belen, 2018. "El mercado de verificación de las memorias de sostenibilidad en España: un análisis desde la perspectiva de la demanda," Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 48-62.
    3. Geert Braam & Roy Peeters, 2018. "Corporate Sustainability Performance and Assurance on Sustainability Reports: Diffusion of Accounting Practices in the Realm of Sustainable Development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(2), pages 164-181, March.
    4. Isabel†María García†Sánchez & Ligia Noguera†Gámez, 2018. "Institutional Investor Protection Pressures versus Firm Incentives in the Disclosure of Integrated Reporting," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(2), pages 199-219, June.
    5. Tobias Steindl, 2021. "Cultural rule orientation, legal institutions, and the credibility of corporate social responsibility reports," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 310-332, January.
    6. repec:ehu:cuader:64023 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Alessandra Pagani & Sara Moggi & Alessandro Gaetano, 2021. "Non-Financial Disclosure Assurance: Critical Insights from the Italian Financial Services Sector," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, August.
    8. Maria Albertina Barreiro Rodrigues & Ana Isabel Morais, 2021. "How to Challenge University Students to Work on Integrated Reporting and Integrated Reporting Assurance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-19, September.
    9. Xue Ning & Dobin Yim & Jiban Khuntia, 2021. "Online Sustainability Reporting and Firm Performance: Lessons Learned from Text Mining," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, January.
    10. Joanna Krasodomska & Ewelina Zarzycka & Paweł Zieniuk, 2024. "Voluntary sustainability reporting assurance in the European Union before the advent of the corporate sustainability reporting directive: The country and firm‐level impact of Sustainable Development G," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 1652-1664, June.
    11. Maroun, Warren, 2017. "Assuring the integrated report: Insights and recommendations from auditors and preparers," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 329-346.
    12. Elies Seguí-Mas & Fernando Polo-Garrido & Helena María Bollas-Araya, 2018. "Sustainability Assurance in Socially-Sensitive Sectors: A Worldwide Analysis of the Financial Services Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, August.
    13. Stewart Jones & Nurul Alam, 2019. "A machine learning analysis of citation impact among selected Pacific Basin journals," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 59(4), pages 2509-2552, December.

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