IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i21p9508-d1511884.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bibliometric Mapping of the Relationships Between Accounting, Professional Accountants, and Sustainability Issues

Author

Listed:
  • Valeriu Brabete

    (Department of Economics, Accounting and International Affairs, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Mirela Sichigea

    (Department Finance, Banking and Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Daniel Cîrciumaru

    (Department Finance, Banking and Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

  • Daniel Goagără

    (Department of Economics, Accounting and International Affairs, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania)

Abstract

The accounting profession plays a crucial role in serving public interest by establishing the foundation for sustainable development and taking on social responsibility. The growing focus on sustainability practices of companies and stakeholders has also had a significant impact on the role of accounting and professional accountants. This has led to increased expectations for greater involvement in integrating sustainability into corporate decision making at every level. We used a bibliometric analysis of academic literature as a research method to identify the relationships between accounting, professional accountants, and sustainability issues (APASI). Bibliometrix R-package and VOSviewer were used to achieve the proposed objectives. This study analyzes the performance of the scientific literature, establishes the conceptual, intellectual, and social structure of research, and identifies new research directions. A period of 37 years (1987–2024) is taken into consideration, with 2556 documents and 859 sources extracted from the Web of Science database analyzed. We offer, in an original manner, descriptive statistics and relevant landmarks of the sources, authors, publications, organizations, and countries that have contributed significantly to the development of research in this field. Interested researchers have the opportunity to identify scholars for potential collaborations and valuable study resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Valeriu Brabete & Mirela Sichigea & Daniel Cîrciumaru & Daniel Goagără, 2024. "Bibliometric Mapping of the Relationships Between Accounting, Professional Accountants, and Sustainability Issues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-34, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:21:p:9508-:d:1511884
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/21/9508/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/21/9508/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Donthu, Naveen & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Pandey, Nitesh & Lim, Weng Marc, 2021. "How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 285-296.
    2. Markus Milne & Rob Gray, 2013. "W(h)ither Ecology? The Triple Bottom Line, the Global Reporting Initiative, and Corporate Sustainability Reporting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 13-29, November.
    3. Belinda Rachael Williams & Gary O'Donovan, 2015. "The accountants’ perspective on sustainable business practices in SMEs," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(3), pages 641-656, August.
    4. Ilenia Ascani & Roberta Ciccola & Maria Serena Chiucchi, 2021. "A Structured Literature Review about the Role of Management Accountants in Sustainability Accounting and Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-25, February.
    5. Luis Puente & Cielo Char & Devansh Patel & Malinda S. Thilakarathna & M. S. Roopesh, 2024. "Research Trends and Development Patterns in Microgreens Publications: A Bibliometric Study from 2004 to 2023," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Weishu Liu, 2019. "The data source of this study is Web of Science Core Collection? Not enough," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 121(3), pages 1815-1824, December.
    7. Jill Atkins & Barry Colin Atkins & Ian Thomson & Warren Maroun, 2015. "“Good” news from nowhere: imagining utopian sustainable accounting," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(5), pages 651-670, June.
    8. Alan Kai Ming Au & Yi-Fan Yang & Huan Wang & Rui-Hong Chen & Leven J. Zheng, 2023. "Mapping the Landscape of ESG Strategies: A Bibliometric Review and Recommendations for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-26, December.
    9. Catalina Radu & Carmen Nadia Ciocoiu & Cristina Veith & Razvan Catalin Dobrea, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence and Competency-Based Education: A Bibliometric Analysis," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 26(65), pages 220-220, February.
    10. James Guthrie & Francesca Manes-Rossi & Rebecca Levy Orelli, 2017. "Integrated reporting and integrated thinking in Italian public sector organisations," Meditari Accountancy Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 25(4), pages 553-573, October.
    11. Wiedmann, Thomas, 2009. "A review of recent multi-region input-output models used for consumption-based emission and resource accounting," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 211-222, December.
    12. Egbert Willekes & Koos Wagensveld & Jan Jonker, 2022. "The Role of the Accounting and Control Professional in Monitoring and Controlling Sustainable Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-23, November.
    13. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    14. Renzo Junior & Peter Best & Julie Cotter, 2014. "Sustainability Reporting and Assurance: A Historical Analysis on a World-Wide Phenomenon," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 120(1), pages 1-11, March.
    15. Imperiale, Francesca & Pizzi, Simone & Lippolis, Stella, 2023. "Sustainability reporting and ESG performance in the utilities sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    16. Freedman, Martin & Jaggi, Bikki, 2005. "Global warming, commitment to the Kyoto protocol, and accounting disclosures by the largest global public firms from polluting industries," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 215-232.
    17. José M. Moneva & Pablo Archel & Carmen Correa, 2006. "GRI and the camouflaging of corporate unsustainability," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(2), pages 121-137, June.
    18. Boyd, James & Banzhaf, Spencer, 2007. "What are ecosystem services? The need for standardized environmental accounting units," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2-3), pages 616-626, August.
    19. Gray, Rob, 1992. "Accounting and environmentalism: An exploration of the challenge of gently accounting for accountability, transparency and sustainability," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 399-425, July.
    20. van Oorschot, Johannes A.W.H. & Hofman, Erwin & Halman, Johannes I.M., 2018. "A bibliometric review of the innovation adoption literature," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1-21.
    21. Cho, Charles H. & Patten, Dennis M., 2007. "The role of environmental disclosures as tools of legitimacy: A research note," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(7-8), pages 639-647.
    22. Geoff Lamberton, 2005. "Sustainability accounting—a brief history and conceptual framework," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 7-26, March.
    23. John Dumay & Cristiana Bernardi & James Guthrie & Paola Demartini, 2016. "Integrated reporting: A structured literature review," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 166-185, September.
    24. Kyriaki Tsilika, 2023. "Exploring the Contributions to Mathematical Economics: A Bibliometric Analysis Using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-21, November.
    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. Olivier Boiral, 2016. "Accounting for the Unaccountable: Biodiversity Reporting and Impression Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(4), pages 751-768, June.
    2. C. Feger & Laurent Mermet, 2021. "Advances in accounting for biodiversity and ecosystems: a typology focusing upon the environmental results imperative [Innovations comptables pour la biodiversité et les écosystèmes : une typologie," Post-Print hal-02549016, HAL.
    3. Bianca Alves Almeida Machado & Lívia Cristina Pinto Dias & Alberto Fonseca, 2021. "Transparency of materiality analysis in GRI‐based sustainability reports," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(2), pages 570-580, March.
    4. Qian, Wei & Schaltegger, Stefan, 2017. "Revisiting carbon disclosure and performance: Legitimacy and management views," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 365-379.
    5. Dimes, Ruth & de Villiers, Charl, 2024. "Hallmarks of Integrated Thinking," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    6. María Luisa Pajuelo Moreno & Teresa Duarte-Atoche, 2019. "Relationship between Sustainable Disclosure and Performance—An Extension of Ullmann’s Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-33, August.
    7. Ozgur Isil & Michael T. Hernke, 2017. "The Triple Bottom Line: A Critical Review from a Transdisciplinary Perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1235-1251, December.
    8. Bhavna Thawani & Tushar Panigrahi & Meena Bhatia, 2024. "Eleven years of integrated reporting: a bibliometric analysis," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(4), pages 666-684, December.
    9. Lee Roberts & Monomita Nandy & Abeer Hassan & Suman Lodh & Ahmed A. Elamer, 2022. "Corporate Accountability Towards Species Extinction Protection: Insights from Ecologically Forward-Thinking Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 571-595, July.
    10. Laura Sierra-Garcia & Maria Antonia Garcia-Benau & Helena Maria Bollas-Araya, 2018. "Empirical Analysis of Non-Financial Reporting by Spanish Companies," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-17, July.
    11. Ismail N.B. & Sébastien Alcouffe & Galy N & Ceulemans K, 2020. "The impact of international sustainability initiatives on Life Cycle Assessment voluntary disclosures: The case of France’s CAC40 listed companies," Post-Print hal-03082800, HAL.
    12. Estibaliz Goicoechea & Fernando Gómez-Bezares & José Vicente Ugarte, 2019. "Integrated Reporting Assurance: Perceptions of Auditors and Users in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Michelon, Giovanna & Pilonato, Silvia & Ricceri, Federica, 2015. "CSR reporting practices and the quality of disclosure: An empirical analysis," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 59-78.
    14. Maria Federica Izzo & Alberto Dello Strologo & Fabrizio Granà, 2020. "Learning from the Best: New Challenges and Trends in IR Reporters’ Disclosure and the Role of SDGs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-22, July.
    15. Leopizzi, Rossella & Palmi, Pamela & Di Cagno, Pierluca, 2023. "Sustainability reporting and electric utilities: A bibliometric analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    16. Francesca Manes-Rossi & Adriana Tiron-Tudor & Giuseppe Nicolò & Gianluca Zanellato, 2018. "Ensuring More Sustainable Reporting in Europe Using Non-Financial Disclosure—De Facto and De Jure Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    17. Ruggiero, Pasquale & Bachiller, Patricia, 2023. "Seeing more than reading:The visual mode in utilities' sustainability reports," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    18. Genevé Richard & Elza Odendaal, 2021. "Credibility-enhancing mechanisms, other than external assurance, in integrated reporting," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(1), pages 61-93, March.
    19. Soh Young In & Young Joon Lee & Robert G. Eccles, 2024. "Looking back and looking forward: A scientometric analysis of the evolution of corporate sustainability research over 47 years," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 2225-2259, May.
    20. Sabrina Spallini & Virginia Milone & Antonio Nisio & Patrizia Romanazzi, 2021. "The Dimension of Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of Broadness of Information in Italian Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, January.

    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:2024:i:21:p:9508-:d:1511884. 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.