Ana Zorio

Measurement of formal harmonization progress:: The IASC experience

Abstract As a result of globalization, the accounting profession has become increasingly aware of the need to establish a single set of accounting standards that would be valid in the international arena. Recent events highlight the timeliness of this study, which provides an empirical measurement of International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) progress throughout its harmonization history. The purpose of this article is twofold: first, a new measure of the advances achieved through formal harmonization and second, to use this methodology to evaluate the IASC achievements all through its standard-setting activity. Our results prove that the IASC has made great progress in regard to the level of harmony achieved through the accounting standards it has issued or revised. Nevertheless, we conclude that the IASC needs to continue working towards greater formal harmonization. Our study also indicates research directions that could advance the study of formal harmonization. This specific area of research has generally been disregarded in the existing literature, a trend we would like to see reversed, considering that its application can provide valuable insight for standard-setting processes, especially now that the accounting community is so conscious of the need to advance the harmonization process.

Financial crisis impact on sustainability reporting

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to shed some light on the effect of the current financial crisis on corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting and CSR assurance strategies that companies disclose online to stakeholders, by dividing the time horizon into two periods, before 2008 and from 2008. Design/methodology/approach – The sample includes Spanish listed companies, differentiating CSR reporters from non CSR-reporters. Also distinguished in the CSR-reporters sample, are those companies that assure the CSR report from those that do not. The authors contrast whether there is a trend as regards CSR reporting and CSR assurance, depending on whether the crisis has already begun or not. Next the authors focus on companies that change their CSR reporting strategy or change their CSR assurance strategy and see if there is an impact on performance (both from an accounting and from a market perspective). Findings – Even though the financial crisis has raised the question whether assurance of CSR report...

Credibilidad en latinoamérica del informe de responsabilidad social corporativa

To improve credibility of Corporate Social Responsibility reports, they are assured by an external expert. This research is based on 1,021 observations from 12 countries in Latin America during the years 2006-2010. In view of the results obtained, we can conclude that Latin America is a region where there is a great commitment to sustainability. In addition, our results indicate that the decision to give more credibility to sustainable policies through the assurance process depends on the size of the RSC reporting company, the industry to which it belongs and the country where the firm operates.Para dar mayor credibilidad a la informacion publicada en los informes de responsabilidad social corporativa se asigna a estos de un proceso de aseguramiento por parte de un experto externo. Esta investigacion se basa en 1.021 observaciones de 12 paises de Latinoamerica durante los anos 2006-2010. A la vista de los resultados, podemos concluir que Latinoamerica es una region donde cada vez hay un mayor compromiso con la sostenibilidad. Ademas, los resultados senalan que la decision de otorgar mayor credibilidad a las politicas sostenibles por medio del aseguramiento depende del tamano de la empresa, del sector al que pertenece y del pais donde se encuentre.

Credibility in Latin America of corporate social responsibility reports

To improve credibility of Corporate Social Responsibility reports, they are assured by an external expert. This research is based on 1,021 observations from 12 countries in Latin America during the years 2006-2010. In view of the results obtained, we can conclude that Latin America is a region where there is a great commitment to sustainability. In addition, our results indicate that the decision to give more credibility to sustainable policies through the assurance process depends on the size of the RSC reporting company, the industry to which it belongs and the country where the firm operates.Para dar mayor credibilidad a la informacion publicada en los informes de responsabilidad social corporativa se asigna a estos de un proceso de aseguramiento por parte de un experto externo. Esta investigacion se basa en 1.021 observaciones de 12 paises de Latinoamerica durante los anos 2006-2010. A la vista de los resultados, podemos concluir que Latinoamerica es una region donde cada vez hay un mayor compromiso con la sostenibilidad. Ademas, los resultados senalan que la decision de otorgar mayor credibilidad a las politicas sostenibles por medio del aseguramiento depende del tamano de la empresa, del sector al que pertenece y del pais donde se encuentre.

Credibilidade do relatório de responsabilidade social corporativa na América Latina

To improve credibility of Corporate Social Responsibility reports, they are assured by an external expert. This research is based on 1,021 observations from 12 countries in Latin America during the years 2006-2010. In view of the results obtained, we can conclude that Latin America is a region where there is a great commitment to sustainability. In addition, our results indicate that the decision to give more credibility to sustainable policies through the assurance process depends on the size of the RSC reporting company, the industry to which it belongs and the country where the firm operates.Para dar mayor credibilidad a la informacion publicada en los informes de responsabilidad social corporativa se asigna a estos de un proceso de aseguramiento por parte de un experto externo. Esta investigacion se basa en 1.021 observaciones de 12 paises de Latinoamerica durante los anos 2006-2010. A la vista de los resultados, podemos concluir que Latinoamerica es una region donde cada vez hay un mayor compromiso con la sostenibilidad. Ademas, los resultados senalan que la decision de otorgar mayor credibilidad a las politicas sostenibles por medio del aseguramiento depende del tamano de la empresa, del sector al que pertenece y del pais donde se encuentre.