The Real Effects of Mandated Information on Social Responsibility in Financial Reports: Evidence from Mine-Safety Records

54 Pages Posted: 27 Oct 2015 Last revised: 7 Sep 2017

See all articles by Hans Bonde Christensen

Hans Bonde Christensen

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business

Eric Floyd

University of California San Diego

Lisa Yao Liu

Columbia Business School

Mark G. Maffett

University of Miami - Department of Accounting

Date Written: August 3, 2017

Abstract

We examine the real effects of mandatory-social-responsibility disclosures, which require SEC-registered mine owners to include their mine-safety records in their financial reports. These safety records are already publicly available elsewhere, which allows us to isolate and estimate the incremental real effects of including this information in financial reports. Comparing mines owned by SEC-registered issuers with mines that are not, we document that including safety records in financial reports decreases mining-related citations and injuries, and reduces labor productivity. Evidence from stock-market reactions and mutual-fund holdings suggests that increased awareness of safety issues is a likely explanation for the observed real effects.

Keywords: Real effects, Dodd-Frank Act, mine safety, corporate social responsibility

JEL Classification: D03, G14, G18, G38, I18, J28, K22, K32, L71, L72, L78, M41, M48

Suggested Citation

Christensen, Hans Bonde and Floyd, Eric and Liu, Lisa Yao and Maffett, Mark G., The Real Effects of Mandated Information on Social Responsibility in Financial Reports: Evidence from Mine-Safety Records (August 3, 2017). Journal of Accounting & Economics (JAE), Vol. 64, No. 2-3, 2017, Chicago Booth Research Paper No. 16-05, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2680296 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2680296

Hans Bonde Christensen (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Booth School of Business ( email )

5807 South Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
United States

Eric Floyd

University of California San Diego ( email )

CA
United States

Lisa Yao Liu

Columbia Business School ( email )

3022 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
United States

Mark G. Maffett

University of Miami - Department of Accounting ( email )

Coral Gables, FL 33146-6531
United States

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