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When accounts become information: A study of investors’ ESG analysis practice

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  • Du Rietz, Sabina

Abstract

The present study investigates how accounts are identified as information. A precondition for the interpretation and use of information is that it is identified as potential information. How does this happen? Using the empirical case of investor analysts and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, the study finds that to be able to distinguish information from irrelevant accounts, the analysts specify what they want knowledge about, the epistemic object. In fact, how the epistemic object is defined strongly influences which accounts are regarded as information. Still, the linking between accounts and what they are believed to reflect requires an interpretation. This effort is particularly visible when the ‘fit’ is lacking. Studying and reflecting on their informing process, the analysts acquire knowledge of what is captured but should not be and what is not captured but should be. Hence, the identification of accounts is not only the story of how available accounts are identified as information but also of how information is identified in its absence.

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  • Du Rietz, Sabina, 2014. "When accounts become information: A study of investors’ ESG analysis practice," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 395-408.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:scaman:v:30:y:2014:i:4:p:395-408
    DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2014.09.002
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    1. Gaurav Talan & Gagan Deep Sharma, 2019. "Doing Well by Doing Good: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda for Sustainable Investment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, January.

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