IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2023i1p124-d1305389.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

ESG Performance, Auditor Choice, and Audit Opinion: Evidence from an Emerging Market

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed Diab

    (Accounting Department, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
    Faculty of Commerce, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt)

  • Aref M. Eissa

    (Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
    Accounting Department, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

This study examines the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on auditor choice and audit opinion for Egyptian-listed firms. We use univariate and multivariate analyses of 612 firm-year observations for a sample of 68 firms listed on EGX100 over 2014–2022 using binary logistic regression models. Consistent with the ethical perspective of corporate social responsibility, we found that firms listed in the ESG index are more likely to assign one of the Big4 auditors, and less likely to receive a qualified opinion. Through an additional analysis, we found that COVID-19 moderates the relationship between ESG performance, auditor choice, and audit opinion. Our results confirm the value of ESG performance for audit practices in emerging economies. This research indicates that ESG performance can enhance financial reporting quality. Further, it ensures that binding guidelines and regulations are crucial to oversee corporate ESG performance, especially during crisis times, and enhance investors’ protection and firms’ sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Diab & Aref M. Eissa, 2023. "ESG Performance, Auditor Choice, and Audit Opinion: Evidence from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2023:i:1:p:124-:d:1305389
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/1/124/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/1/124/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aref M. Eissa & Yasser Eliwa, 2021. "The effect of political connections on firm performance: evidence from Egypt," Asian Review of Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 29(3), pages 362-382, July.
    2. Patrick Velte, 2022. "Meta-analyses on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): a literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 627-675, September.
    3. Howard Stein & Steven Rosefielde, 2005. "Introduction to Issues in Finance, Corporate Control, and Growth: Lessons from Developing and Transitional Economies," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 31(2), pages 210-217, Spring.
    4. Anis Maaloul & Daniel Zéghal & Walid Ben Amar & Sari Mansour, 2023. "The Effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance and Disclosure on Cost of Debt: The Mediating Effect of Corporate Reputation," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(1), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Richard Welford, 2007. "Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility: issues for Asia," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(1), pages 42-51, February.
    6. Diego Prior & Jordi Surroca & Josep A. Tribó, 2008. "Are Socially Responsible Managers Really Ethical? Exploring the Relationship Between Earnings Management and Corporate Social Responsibility," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(3), pages 160-177, May.
    7. Manuel Branco & Lúcia Rodrigues, 2006. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Resource-Based Perspectives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 111-132, December.
    8. Xin Wang & Xiayun Song & Mingyang Sun, 2023. "How Does a Company’s ESG Performance Affect the Issuance of an Audit Opinion? The Moderating Role of Auditor Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-17, February.
    9. D. Eric Hirst, 1994. "Auditor Sensitivity to Earnings Management," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(1), pages 405-422, June.
    10. Nair, Rajiv & Muttakin, Mohammad & Khan, Arifur & Subramaniam, Nava & Somanath, V.S., 2019. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure and financial transparency: Evidence from India," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 330-351.
    11. Imen Khelil, 2023. "The working relationship between internal and external auditors and the moral courage of internal auditors: Tunisian evidence," Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 41(4), pages 462-477, January.
    12. Jinhua Cui & Hoje Jo & Haejung Na, 2018. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect Information Asymmetry?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 549-572, March.
    13. Lin, K.C. & Dong, Xiaobo, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility engagement of financially distressed firms and their bankruptcy likelihood," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 32-45.
    14. Shuili Du & Edward Vieira, 2012. "Striving for Legitimacy Through Corporate Social Responsibility: Insights from Oil Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(4), pages 413-427, November.
    15. Soad Moussa Tantawy & Tantawy Moussa, 2023. "The effect of political connections on firms' auditor choice decisions and audit opinions: evidence from Egypt," Asian Review of Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(3), pages 414-436, February.
    16. Ebenezer K. Lamptey & Jin Dong Park & Isaac Bonaparte, 2023. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect the Timeliness of Audited Financial Information? Evidence from “100 Best Corporate Citizens”," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-21, January.
    17. Yongtao Hong & Margaret Andersen, 2011. "The Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Management: An Exploratory Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(4), pages 461-471, December.
    18. Hasnas, John, 1998. "The Normative Theories of Business Ethics: A Guide for the Perplexed," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(1), pages 19-42, January.
    19. Bilal Fayiz Omar & Nidal Omar Zallom, 2016. "Corporate social responsibility and market value: evidence from Jordan," Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(1), pages 2-29, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bert Scholtens & Feng‐Ching Kang, 2013. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Management: Evidence from Asian Economies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 95-112, March.
    2. Aref M. Eissa & Arafat Hamdy & Ahmed Diab, 2024. "Governmental Ownership, Board Gender Diversity, and ESG Performance: Evidence from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Nair, Rajiv & Muttakin, Mohammad & Khan, Arifur & Subramaniam, Nava & Somanath, V.S., 2019. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure and financial transparency: Evidence from India," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 330-351.
    4. Ben Lahouel, Béchir & Ben Zaied, Younes & Managi, Shunsuke & Taleb, Lotfi, 2022. "Re-thinking about U: The relevance of regime-switching model in the relationship between environmental corporate social responsibility and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 498-519.
    5. Du, Shuili & Xu, Xiaolu & Yu, Kun, 2020. "Does corporate social responsibility affect auditor-client contracting? Evidence from auditor selection and audit fees," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    6. Jennifer Martínez-Ferrero & Shantanu Banerjee & Isabel María García-Sánchez, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility as a Strategic Shield Against Costs of Earnings Management Practices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 305-324, January.
    7. Jing Jia & Zhongtian Li, 2022. "Corporate sustainability, earnings persistence and the association between earnings and future cash flows," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 299-336, March.
    8. Jun Hyeok Choi & Saerona Kim & Dong-Hoon Yang & Kwanghee Cho, 2021. "Can Corporate Social Responsibility Decrease the Negative Influence of Financial Distress on Accounting Quality?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-19, October.
    9. Eugene Burgos Mutuc & Jen-Sin Lee & Fu-Sheng Tsai, 2019. "Doing Good with Creative Accounting? Linking Corporate Social Responsibility to Earnings Management in Market Economy, Country and Business Sector Contexts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-20, August.
    10. Martínez Ferrero, Jennifer, 2014. "Consecuencias de las prácticas de sostenibilidad en el coste de capital y en la reputación corporativa," Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 153-162.
    11. Wong, Jin Boon & Zhang, Qin, 2022. "Stock market reactions to adverse ESG disclosure via media channels," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(1).
    12. Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez & Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez & José Luis Lizcano-Álvarez, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Intellectual Capital: Sources of Competitiveness and Legitimacy in Organizations’ Management Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-29, October.
    13. Grougiou, Vassiliki & Leventis, Stergios & Dedoulis, Emmanouil & Owusu-Ansah, Stephen, 2014. "Corporate social responsibility and earnings management in U.S. banks," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 155-169.
    14. Liu, Simeng & Wang, Kun Tracy & Walpola, Sonali & Zhu, Nathan Zhenghang, 2024. "CSR contracting and stock price crash risk: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    15. Isabel‐Maria García‐Sánchez & Nazim Hussain & Sana Akbar Khan & Jennifer Martínez‐Ferrero, 2020. "Managerial entrenchment, corporate social responsibility, and earnings management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1818-1833, July.
    16. Li, WeiWei & Padmanabhan, Prasad & Huang, Chia-Hsing, 2024. "ESG and debt structure: Is the nature of this relationship nonlinear?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    17. Anagnostopoulou, Seraina C. & Tsekrekos, Andrianos E. & Voulgaris, Georgios, 2021. "Accounting conservatism and corporate social responsibility," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(4).
    18. Jennifer Martínez-Ferrero & Isabel Gallego-Álvarez & Isabel María García-Sánchez, 2015. "A Bidirectional Analysis of Earnings Management and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Moderating Effect of Stakeholder and Investor Protection," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 25(4), pages 359-371, December.
    19. Liu, Chengyun & Su, Kun & Zhang, Miaomiao, 2021. "Water disclosure and financial reporting quality for social changes: Empirical evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    20. Tesfaye T. Lemma & Mehrzad Azmi Shabestari & Martin Freedman & Mthokozisi Mlilo, 2020. "Corporate carbon risk exposure, voluntary disclosure, and financial reporting quality," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 2130-2143, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2023:i:1:p:124-:d:1305389. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.