The Integration of Corporate Governance in Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 15-26, 2010
19 Pages Posted: 1 Mar 2009 Last revised: 8 Feb 2010
Date Written: February 28, 2009
Abstract
In recent years, attention for corporate governance has not only increased but the notion has also broadened considerably, and started to cover some aspects traditionally seen as being part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR, corporate governance and their interlink seem particularly relevant for multinational enterprises (MNEs) which, due to their activities in multiple contexts around the world and concomitant visibility, generally face higher demands to be transparent and disclose information about such issues. Insights into whether and in which cases disclosures on the two topics actually merge has been very limited, however. This paper analyses to what extent corporate governance has become integrated in MNEs' disclosure practices on CSR. Based on an analysis of CSR reporting of Fortune Global 250 companies, findings show that more than half of them has a separate corporate governance section in their CSR report and/or explicitly links corporate governance and CSR issues. We also found that MNEs which disclose information on a wider variety of social and environmental issues and frame CSR with a focus on internal issues are more inclined to integrate corporate governance in their CSR reporting. This integration seems to be a global phenomenon that cuts across countries and sectors.
Keywords: corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, shareholder, stakeholder
JEL Classification: D21, F23, G34, G38, H7, K31, K32, L20, M1, M14, M41
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?
Recommended Papers
-
The Modern Corporation and the Idea of Freedom
By Claus Dierksmeier and Michael Pirson
-
Humanism In Business – Towards A Paradigm Shift?
By Michael Pirson and Paul R. Lawrence
-
Unconventional Insights for Managing Stakeholder Trust
By Michael Pirson and Deepak K. Malhotra
-
Novo Nordisk - Making a Difference in Diabetes Treatment
By Patricia Palacios, Bradley Bader, ...
-
By Michael Pirson and Shann Turnbull
-
Complexity Theory, CSR, and Corporate Governance - The Need for Alternative Governance Models
By Michael Pirson and Shann Turnbull