IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/journl/hal-02148574.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Integrated reporting in France: a failure of reducing the information asymmetries about sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabeth Albertini

    (IAE Paris - Sorbonne Business School)

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to determine how integrated reporting (IR) can effectively report on multiple capitals that, when taken together, should create value in a sustainable way, with the objective of reducing information asymmetry. Design/methodology/approach: To answer this research question, a qualitative content analysis was conducted of the IR disclosed by the French companies in the period 2013-16. Findings: 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 natural capital. Finally, the lack of compulsory reporting prevents any comparison between companies or over time. Research limitations/implications: Given its exploratory nature, this research presents several limitations. First, only a few companies have disclosed an IR in France, preventing the generalization of the findings to a larger number of companies. Second, the IR studied covered a period of only four years, preventing the generalization of the findings over a longer period of time. Practical implications: This paper provides insights about the information disclosed through IR in French companies and has implications for adopters and regulators.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Albertini, 2018. "Integrated reporting in France: a failure of reducing the information asymmetries about sustainability," Post-Print hal-02148574, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02148574
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02148574
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hal.science/hal-02148574/document
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jean-Noël Chauvey & Sophie Giordano-Spring & Charles H. Cho & Dennis M. Patten, 2015. "The Normativity and Legitimacy of CSR Disclosure: Evidence from France," Post-Print hal-02009500, HAL.
    2. Jean-Noël Chauvey & Sophie Giordano-Spring & Charles Cho & Dennis Patten, 2015. "The Normativity and Legitimacy of CSR Disclosure: Evidence from France," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 789-803, September.
    3. Frédérique Dejean & Bruno Oxibar, 2010. "Légitimation et communication sociétale : le cas Péchiney," Post-Print halshs-00490287, HAL.
    4. Adams, Carol A., 2015. "The International Integrated Reporting Council: A call to action," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 23-28.
    5. Mary E. Barth, 2015. "Financial Accounting Research, Practice, and Financial Accountability," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 51(4), pages 499-510, December.
    6. Roger L. Burritt & Stefan Schaltegger, 2010. "Sustainability accounting and reporting: fad or trend?," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(7), pages 829-846, September.
    7. De Groot, Rudolf & Van der Perk, Johan & Chiesura, Anna & van Vliet, Arnold, 2003. "Importance and threat as determining factors for criticality of natural capital," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2-3), pages 187-204, March.
    8. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4412 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Charl de Villiers & Leonardo Rinaldi & Jeffrey Unerman, 2014. "Integrated Reporting: Insights, gaps and an agenda for future research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1042-1067, August.
    10. Baiman, S & Verrecchia, RE, 1996. "The relation among capital markets, financial disclosure, production efficiency, and insider trading," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 1-22.
    11. Charles Cho, 2009. "Legitimation Strategies Used in Response to Environmental Disaster: A French Case Study of Total SA's Erika and AZF Incidents," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 33-62.
    12. T. Russell Crook & David J. Ketchen & James G. Combs & Samuel Y. Todd, 2008. "Strategic resources and performance: a meta‐analysis," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(11), pages 1141-1154, November.
    13. Judy Brown & Jesse Dillard, 2014. "Integrated reporting: On the need for broadening out and opening up," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(7), pages 1120-1156, August.
    14. Beattie, Vivien & Smith, Sarah Jane, 2013. "Value creation and business models: Refocusing the intellectual capital debate," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(4), pages 243-254.
    15. Ekins, Paul & Simon, Sandrine & Deutsch, Lisa & Folke, Carl & De Groot, Rudolf, 2003. "A framework for the practical application of the concepts of critical natural capital and strong sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2-3), pages 165-185, March.
    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. 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.
    2. Roslender, Robin & Nielsen, Christian, 2021. "Accounting for the value expectations of customers: Re-imagining the Integrated Reporting initiative," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    3. Niccol? Comerio & Patrizia Tettamanzi, 2019. "Systematic literature network analysis in accounting: A first application on integrated reporting research," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2019(2), pages 73-95.
    4. Klarissa Lueg & Rainer Lueg, 2021. "Deconstructing corporate sustainability narratives: A taxonomy for critical assessment of integrated reporting types," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1785-1800, November.
    5. Jukka Mähönen, 2020. "Comprehensive Approach to Relevant and Reliable Reporting in Europe: A Dream Impossible?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-38, June.
    6. Igor Álvarez-Etxeberria & Miguel Marco-Fondevila & Constancio Zamora-Ramírez, 2023. "Non-Financial Disclosure: Isomorphism Effect in the Face of New Regulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, May.
    7. 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.
    8. Charl de Villiers & Elmar R. Venter & Pei†Chi Kelly Hsiao, 2017. "Integrated reporting: background, measurement issues, approaches and an agenda for future research," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(4), pages 937-959, December.
    9. Charles H. Cho & Jonathan Maurice & Emmanuelle Nègre & Marie-Anne Verdier, 2016. "Is environmental disclosure good for the environment? A meta-analysis and research agenda," Post-Print halshs-01369422, HAL.
    10. Angus W. H. Yip & William Y. P. Yu, 2023. "The Quality of Environmental KPI Disclosure in ESG Reporting for SMEs in Hong Kong," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-26, February.
    11. Nicolas Garcia‐Torea & Belen Fernandez‐Feijoo & Marta De La Cuesta, 2020. "CSR reporting communication: Defective reporting models or misapplication?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 952-968, March.
    12. Renato Camodeca & Alex Almici & Umberto Sagliaschi, 2018. "Sustainability Disclosure in Integrated Reporting: Does It Matter to Investors? A Cheap Talk Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-34, November.
    13. Grueso Gala, Melanie & Camisón Zornoza, César, 2022. "A bibliometric analysis of the literature on non-financial information reporting: Review of the research and network visualization," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    14. 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.
    15. Mähönen Jukka, 2020. "Integrated Reporting and Sustainable Corporate Governance from European Perspective," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 10(2), pages 1-40, July.
    16. Rainer Lueg, 2022. "Constructs for Assessing Integrated Reports—Testing the Predictive Validity of a Taxonomy for Organization Size, Industry, and Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, June.
    17. Warren Maroun, 2020. "A Conceptual Model for Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility Assurance Practice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 187-209, January.
    18. Akrum Helfaya & Tantawy Moussa, 2017. "Do Board's Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy and Orientation Influence Environmental Sustainability Disclosure? UK Evidence," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1061-1077, December.
    19. Dale Tweedie & Christian Nielsen & Nonna Martinov‐Bennie, 2018. "The Business Model in Integrated Reporting: Evaluating Concept and Application," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(3), pages 405-420, September.
    20. Maria Aluchna & Nazim Hussain & Maria Roszkowska-Menkes, 2019. "Integrated Reporting Narratives: The Case of an Industry Leader," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, February.

    More about this item

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:hal:journl:hal-02148574. 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: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    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.