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Scoring Firms’ Codes of Ethics: An Explorative Study of Quality Drivers

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  • Giovanni Garegnani
  • Emilia Merlotti
  • Angeloantonio Russo

Abstract

Research in the field of management has increasingly focused on strategies and tools related to corporate sustainability. Of the tools examined, codes of ethics have been found to play a primary role. Many studies have investigated the content of such codes, as well as their capacity to condition the behaviour of people within organizations. However, few studies have considered the intrinsic quality of codes of ethics. This study aims to investigate the impact that specific factors—firm size, degree of internationalization and industry effect—can have on the quality of codes of ethics. Based on a sample of 248 listed Italian companies, the results of the empirical analysis show that the quality standard is particularly high in larger companies and in those firms operating in industries in which relationships established with critical stakeholders—and disclosure to those stakeholders—play a crucial role. These results have interesting implications for both researchers and practitioners. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Garegnani & Emilia Merlotti & Angeloantonio Russo, 2015. "Scoring Firms’ Codes of Ethics: An Explorative Study of Quality Drivers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(4), pages 541-557, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:126:y:2015:i:4:p:541-557
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1968-8
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    2. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Michele Rubino, 2020. "Gli effetti della cultura nazionale sulla qualit? della disclosure del capitale intellettuale nel contesto dell?Integrated Reporting," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2020(1), pages 137-160.
    3. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Arcangelo Marrone & Michele Rubino, 2020. "The role of board of directors in intellectual capital disclosure after the advent of integrated reporting," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2188-2200, September.
    4. Vitolla, Filippo & Raimo, Nicola & Rubino, Michele, 2019. "Intellectual Capital Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Empirical Analysis Through Integrated Reporting," 7th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship: Embracing Diversity in Organisations (Dubrovnik, 2019), in: 7th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship: Embracing Diversity in Organisations. April 5th - 6th, 2019, Dubrovn, pages 245-255, Governance Research and Development Centre (CIRU), Zagreb.
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    6. Balluchi, Federica & Lazzini, Arianna & Torelli, Riccardo, 2020. "Credibility of Environmental Issues in Non-Financial Mandatory Disclosure: Measurement and Determinants," OSF Preprints g73w5, Center for Open Science.
    7. Anna Pistoni & Lucrezia Songini & Francesco Bavagnoli, 2018. "Integrated Reporting Quality: An Empirical Analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 489-507, July.
    8. Thilini Cooray & A. D. Nuwan Gunarathne & Samanthi Senaratne, 2020. "Does Corporate Governance Affect the Quality of Integrated Reporting?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-30, May.
    9. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Michele Rubino & Antonello Garzoni, 2019. "The impact of national culture on integrated reporting quality. A stakeholder theory approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(8), pages 1558-1571, December.

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