TY - JOUR

T1 - Determinants and consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility Assurance:

T2 - A systematic review of archival research

AU - Velte, Patrick

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.

PY - 2021/1/21

Y1 - 2021/1/21

N2 - Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the governance-related and financial determinants and consequences of corporate social responsibility assurance (CSRA). Design/methodology/approach: Based on a legitimacy theoretical framework and on the business case argument, the author conducts a structured literature review and includes 66 quantitative peer-reviewed empirical (archival) studies on key CSRA proxies (CSRA adoption, choice of CSR assuror and CSRA quality). Findings: In line with the business case for CSRA, the literature review indicates that internal corporate governance, country-related governance and specific financial determinants as reporting, firm size and industry (sensitivity) have a positive impact on CSRA adoption. Research limitations/implications: A detailed analysis of CSRA proxies is needed in future archival research to differentiate between symbolic and substantive use of CSRA. In view of the current regulatory initiatives on CSR reporting and their decision usefulness, future research should also analyze in greater depth CSRA proxies as moderator and mediator variables. Practical implications: With regard to the increased stakeholder demand on CSRA after the financial crisis of 2008–2009, firms should be aware of the value-added of CSRA to increase the decision usefulness of their CSR reports and firm reputation. Originality/value: The analysis makes useful contributions to prior literature by focussing on empirical quantitative (archival) research method, structuring research on the business case for CSRA with respect to its governance and financial determinants and consequences for firms and stressing moderator analysis in archival CSRA research.

AB - Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the governance-related and financial determinants and consequences of corporate social responsibility assurance (CSRA). Design/methodology/approach: Based on a legitimacy theoretical framework and on the business case argument, the author conducts a structured literature review and includes 66 quantitative peer-reviewed empirical (archival) studies on key CSRA proxies (CSRA adoption, choice of CSR assuror and CSRA quality). Findings: In line with the business case for CSRA, the literature review indicates that internal corporate governance, country-related governance and specific financial determinants as reporting, firm size and industry (sensitivity) have a positive impact on CSRA adoption. Research limitations/implications: A detailed analysis of CSRA proxies is needed in future archival research to differentiate between symbolic and substantive use of CSRA. In view of the current regulatory initiatives on CSR reporting and their decision usefulness, future research should also analyze in greater depth CSRA proxies as moderator and mediator variables. Practical implications: With regard to the increased stakeholder demand on CSRA after the financial crisis of 2008–2009, firms should be aware of the value-added of CSRA to increase the decision usefulness of their CSR reports and firm reputation. Originality/value: The analysis makes useful contributions to prior literature by focussing on empirical quantitative (archival) research method, structuring research on the business case for CSRA with respect to its governance and financial determinants and consequences for firms and stressing moderator analysis in archival CSRA research.

KW - Management studies

KW - CSR reporting

KW - CSR asssurance

KW - corporate governance

KW - Legitimacy theory

KW - Archival research

KW - Financial performance

KW - Sustainability Science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102904124&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/5d44f8c3-0f2d-3911-ad09-a156c491734a/

U2 - 10.1108/SBR-05-2020-0077

DO - 10.1108/SBR-05-2020-0077

M3 - Scientific review articles

VL - 16

SP - 1

EP - 25

JO - Society and Business Review

JF - Society and Business Review

SN - 1746-5680

IS - 1

ER -