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Changes in social and environmental reporting practices in an emerging economy (2004–2007): Exploring the relevance of stakeholder and legitimacy theories

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  • Jyoti Devi Mahadeo
  • Vanisha Oogarah-Hanuman
  • Teerooven Soobaroyen

Abstract

We examine social and environmental reporting (SER) practices of listed companies in the island economy of Mauritius. Based on a content analysis of annual reports, quantitative and qualitative changes in SER were analyzed in light of recent developments in corporate governance and with regard to the prevailing social and political contexts of this emerging economy. We find a significant but selective increase in the volume and quality of SER over the period under review (2004–2007). We rely on Suchman’s (1995) conceptualizations of legitimacy to argue that the changes in SER are related to a need for companies to demonstrate an affiliation to pro-social objectives (moral legitimacy) and, to a lesser extent, are motivated by the need to manage specific stakeholders (pragmatic legitimacy). More specifically, the increase in ethical disclosures reflects an attempt at gaining procedural legitimacy in response to criticisms of corruption and unfair/unethical business practices. Furthermore, the increase in social disclosures can primarily be seen as a mechanism to gain consequential legitimacy in response to concerns that local companies are not sufficiently contributing to the country’s social development. We suggest that future empirical research should devote more attention to the specific characteristics of emerging economies (such as levels of corruption and unethical business practices and the level of corporate governance) and examine whether these can explain patterns of corporate SER in a given national context or on a cross-country basis.

Suggested Citation

  • Jyoti Devi Mahadeo & Vanisha Oogarah-Hanuman & Teerooven Soobaroyen, 2011. "Changes in social and environmental reporting practices in an emerging economy (2004–2007): Exploring the relevance of stakeholder and legitimacy theories," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(3), pages 158-175, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:accfor:v:35:y:2011:i:3:p:158-175
    DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2011.06.005
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    1. Soobaroyen, Teerooven & Ntim, Collins G., 2013. "Social and environmental accounting as symbolic and substantive means of legitimation: The case of HIV/AIDS reporting in South Africa," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 92-109.
    2. Zeeshan Mahmood & Rehana Kouser & Md. Abdul Kaium Masud, 2019. "An emerging economy perspective on corporate sustainability reporting – main actors’ views on the current state of affairs in Pakistan," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-31, December.
    3. Bang, You-Young & Lee, Dae Sung & Lim, Seong-Rin, 2019. "Analysis of corporate CO2 and energy cost efficiency: The role of performance indicators and effective environmental reporting," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    4. Ourvashi Bissoon, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility in Mauritius: an analysis of annual reports of multinational hotel groups," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Keigo Fujikura & Akitsu Oe, 2023. "The Influence of Firms’ Pragmatic Legitimacy on Investors’ Perceptions of Their Environmental Protection Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Waris Ali & Jedrzej George Frynas, 2018. "The Role of Normative CSR‐Promoting Institutions in Stimulating CSR Disclosures in Developing Countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 373-390, July.
    7. Waris Ali & Zeeshan Mahmood & Jeffrey Wilson & Hina Ismail, 2024. "The impact of sustainability governance attributes on comprehensive CSR reporting: A developing country setting," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1802-1817, May.
    8. Sitkin, Alan, 2013. "Working for the local community: Substantively broader/geographically narrower CSR accounting," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 315-324.
    9. Wangwei Lin, 2022. "Corporate Non-Financial Reporting in the UK: Diversions from the EU Sustainability Reporting Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, July.
    10. Madalina Dumitru & Nadia Albu & Valentin Florentin Dumitru & Catalin Nicolae Albu, 2014. "Practices Regarding the Forms of Communication with the Consumers used by a Multinational Company at Global and Local Level," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 16(35), pages 1-41, February.
    11. Hopper, Trevor & Lassou, Philippe & Soobaroyen, Teerooven, 2017. "Globalisation, accounting and developing countries," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 125-148.
    12. Eleonora Cardillo & Maria Cristina Longo, 2020. "Managerial Reporting Tools for Social Sustainability: Insights from a Local Government Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, May.
    13. Yang, Helen Hong & Craig, Russell & Farley, Alan, 2015. "A review of Chinese and English language studies on corporate environmental reporting in China," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 30-48.
    14. K. Vithana & T. Soobaroyen & C. G. Ntim, 2021. "Human Resource Disclosures in UK Corporate Annual Reports: To What Extent Do These Reflect Organisational Priorities Towards Labour?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 475-497, March.
    15. Lintang D. Sekarlangit & Ratna Wardhani, 2021. "The Effect of the Characteristics and Activities of the Board of Directors on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Disclosures: Empirical Evidence from Southeast Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
    16. Khwaja Naveed & Cosmina L. Voinea & Zahid Ali & Fawad Rauf & Cosmin Fratostiteanu, 2021. "Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Social Performance in Different Industry Groups: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-15, March.
    17. Monfardini, Patrizio & Barretta, Antonio D. & Ruggiero, Pasquale, 2013. "Seeking legitimacy: Social reporting in the healthcare sector," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 54-66.
    18. Ma Zhong & Weiqi Zhao & Yasir Shahab, 2022. "The philanthropic response of substantive and symbolic corporate social responsibility strategies to COVID‐19 crisis: Evidence from China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(2), pages 339-355, March.
    19. Mihaela Turturea, 2015. "Social and Environmental Reporting as a Part of the Integrated Reporting," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 63(6), pages 2161-2170.
    20. Marcelle Colares Oliveira & Manuel Salgueiro Rodrigues Júnior & Sérgio Henrique De Oliveira Lima & George Alberto De Freitas, 2018. "The Influence of the Characteristics of the National Business System in the Disclosure of Gender-Related Corporate Social Responsibility Practices," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-17, April.
    21. Miguel Pombinho & Ana Fialho & Jorge Novas, 2023. "Readability of Sustainability Reports: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-21, December.
    22. Karishma Ansaram & Neeveditah Pariag-Maraye, 2018. "Modelling the Impact of Responsibility Levels on Corporate Financial Performance: The Case of Top 100 Firms in Mauritius," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 8(3), pages 118-138, September.

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