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Integrated reporting: an exploratory study of French companies

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  • Elisabeth Albertini

    (IAE-Sorbonne Business School)

Abstract

The increasing complexity of the business world has led to growing demands for companies to provide information about their financial performance, their corporate governance and their contribution to developing sustainability. In addition, there are increasing needs for investors to obtain more information about the value creation process since financial reporting systems account imperfectly for most of intangible assets generated by companies. In this context, this article aims to determine if integrated reporting does effectively achieve the objective of reducing the information asymmetry. To answer this research question, a qualitative content analysis was conducted of the IR disclosed by the French companies in the period of 2013–16. The study reveals that information asymmetry is not reduced since companies mention only some capitals as inputs to their value creation process while almost entirely excluding natural capital. Moreover, companies disclose only positive information mainly about their financial capital, without mentioning any destruction of capital, especially not the natural one. Finally, from our findings, signals disclosed by these companies can be classified in three categories: intent signals composed of information about social and relational capital; camouflage signals composed of information about the reduction of the pollution without mentioning the pollution itself and need signals composed of information about dividends encouraging investors to maintain their financial support.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Albertini, 2019. "Integrated reporting: an exploratory study of French companies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(2), pages 513-535, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:23:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10997-018-9428-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-018-9428-6
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    Cited by:

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    3. Nuradhi Kalpani Jayasiri & Sriyalatha Kumarasinghe & Rakesh Pandey, 2023. "12 years of integrated reporting: A review of research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2187-2243, June.
    4. Bonsón, Enrique & Bednárová, Michaela & Perea, David, 2023. "Disclosures about algorithmic decision making in the corporate reports of Western European companies," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    5. Pappu Kumar Dey, 2020. "Value relevance of integrated reporting: a study of the Bangladesh banking sector," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(4), pages 195-207, December.
    6. Bonsón, Enrique & Lavorato, Domenica & Lamboglia, Rita & Mancini, Daniela, 2021. "Artificial intelligence activities and ethical approaches in leading listed companies in the European Union," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    7. Arcangelo Marrone & Lara Oliva, 2021. "Measuring the Level of Integrated Reporting Alignment with the Framework," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 110-110, July.
    8. 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.
    9. Boguslawa Bek-Gaik & Anna Surowiec, 2022. "The Quality of Business Model Disclosure in Integrated Reporting: Evidence from Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 3-26.

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