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Causes and consequences of voluntary assurance of CSR reports

Author

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  • Peter Clarkson
  • Yue Li
  • Gordon Richardson
  • Albert Tsang

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the authors investigate a firm’s decision to provide a CSR report, and if so, whether to have the report assured and to seek higher quality assurance as reflected through the choices of the scope of the assurance and type of assurer, Big 4 accounting firm vs specialist consultant. Second, the authors investigate the impact of voluntary assurance of CSR reports, assurance scope and type of assurer on the likelihood of inclusion in the DJSI and on market valuation. Design/methodology/approach - The study’s sample consists of 17,050 firm-year observations from 40 countries with CSR reports available from Corporate Register and ESG metrics available from ASSET4 over the period 2009–2015. The study first empirically examines the associations between CSR commitment and each of CSR report provision, CSR report assurance, assurance scope and type of assurer. It then examines that association between both inclusion in the DJSI and market valuation with each of CSR report assurance, assurance scope and type of assurer, using inclusion in the DJSI as an objective measure of a firm’s reputation for sustainability given its recognition as a leading indicator for corporate sustainability and market valuation as a reflection of the broader set of capital market participants. Findings - The authors establish two key findings consistent with the predictions of signaling theory. First, we show that high CSR commitment firms are more likely to: provide standalone CSR reports; obtain assurance; obtain assurance from a Big 4 accounting firm; and, adopt higher assurance scope. Second, the authors find that both CSR report assurance and assurance scope increase the likelihood of inclusion in the DJSI, but that the type of assurance provider does not. Alternatively, the authors find that capital market participants appear to value the provision of a CSR report only when it is assured by a Big 4 accounting firm. Originality/value - The results in the existing literature exploring the capital market benefits to CSR Assurance have been mixed. Firms that voluntarily obtain CSR Assurance incur a cost in doing so and must perceive a net benefit from obtaining such assurance. Despite the limited guidance currently provided by existing CSR standards, we establish the existence of benefits to obtaining CSR Assurance in terms of enhanced likelihood of DJSI inclusion and, more generally, enhanced market valuation. The discussions with DJSI analysts indicate that CSR assurance does enhance the perceived reliability of CSR data, thus improving user confidence.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Clarkson & Yue Li & Gordon Richardson & Albert Tsang, 2019. "Causes and consequences of voluntary assurance of CSR reports," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(8), pages 2451-2474, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:aaajpp:aaaj-03-2018-3424
    DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-03-2018-3424
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eunice S. Khoo & Youngdeok Lim & Louise Y. Lu & Gary S. Monroe, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility performance and the reputational incentives of independent directors," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(5-6), pages 841-881, May.
    2. Li‐Chun Kuo & Chia‐Lin Lee & Yun‐Ting Lee, 2022. "The impact of voluntary assurance of CSR reports on firms' operating performance: Evidence from Taiwan," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 4041-4054, December.
    3. Bradbury, Michael & Jia, Jing & Li, Zhongtian, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility committees and the use of corporate social responsibility assurance services," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(2).
    4. Elbardan, Hany & Uyar, Ali & Kuzey, Cemil & Karaman, Abdullah S., 2023. "CSR reporting, assurance, and firm value and risk: The moderating effects of CSR committees and executive compensation," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    5. Isabel-María García-Sánchez & Nicola Raimo & Víctor Amor-Esteban & Filippo Vitolla, 2023. "Board committees and non-financial information assurance services," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(1), pages 1-42, March.
    6. Ali Uyar & Simone Pizzi & Fabio Caputo & Cemil Kuzey & Abdullah S. Karaman, 2022. "Do shareholders reward or punish risky firms due to CSR reporting and assurance?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(5), pages 1596-1620, July.
    7. Shan Zhou, 2022. "Reporting and Assurance of Climate‐Related and Other Sustainability Information: A Review of Research and Practice," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 32(3), pages 315-333, September.
    8. Nadia Gulko & Catriona Hyde, 2022. "Corporate perspectives on CSR disclosure: audience, materiality, motivations," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(4), pages 389-412, December.
    9. Le Luo & Qingliang Tang & Hanlu Fan & Jamie Ayers, 2023. "Corporate carbon assurance and the quality of carbon disclosure," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 657-690, March.
    10. Peter M. Clarkson & Jordan Ponn & Gordon D. Richardson & Frank Rudzicz & Albert Tsang & Jingjing Wang, 2020. "A Textual Analysis of US Corporate Social Responsibility Reports," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 56(1), pages 3-34, March.
    11. Khanh Hoang, 2022. "Silent but deadly: Political corruption and voluntary ESG disclosure in the United States," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(7), pages 2775-2793, October.
    12. Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez, 2020. "Drivers of the CSR report assurance quality: Credibility and consistency for stakeholder engagement," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2530-2547, November.
    13. Isabel Gallego‐Álvarez & María Consuelo Pucheta‐Martínez, 2022. "The moderating effects of corporate social responsibility assurance in the relationship between corporate social responsibility disclosure and corporate performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 535-548, May.
    14. Wang, Yujie & Tsang, Albert & Xiang, Yi & Yao, Daifei (Troy), 2023. "Corporate social responsibility misconduct and formation of board interlocks," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).

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