TY - JOUR

T1 - Do audit committees impact corporate social responsibility?

T2 - A review of empirical quantitative research and research opportunities

AU - Velte, Patrick

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Purpose – The purpose of this study was to analyze whether audit committees (ACs) influence corporate social responsibility (CSR) outputs.Design/methodology/approach – A structured literature review of 57 archival studies on the influence of ACs on CSR outputs was conducted. According to a stakeholder–agency theoretical framework, the AC variables were structured as follows: 1) presence, 2) composition, and 3) resources, incentives, and diligence. CSR is mainly divided into CSR performance, CSR reporting, and CSR assurance.Findings – Previous studies have mainly focused on AC composition and CSR reporting. There are indications that AC composition and CSR performance and assurance are positively linked. Moreover, AC resources, incentives, and diligence increase CSR reporting.Research limitations/applications – This study stresses the need for linking AC composition with sustainability, the inclusion of moderator and especially mediator variables, and addressing endogeneity concerns via advanced regression models.Originality/value – This paper reports the first literature review on the interaction between AC and CSR. It presents the main variables that have been included in previous studies, the limitations of these studies, and useful recommendations for future research, business practice, and regulators.

AB - Purpose – The purpose of this study was to analyze whether audit committees (ACs) influence corporate social responsibility (CSR) outputs.Design/methodology/approach – A structured literature review of 57 archival studies on the influence of ACs on CSR outputs was conducted. According to a stakeholder–agency theoretical framework, the AC variables were structured as follows: 1) presence, 2) composition, and 3) resources, incentives, and diligence. CSR is mainly divided into CSR performance, CSR reporting, and CSR assurance.Findings – Previous studies have mainly focused on AC composition and CSR reporting. There are indications that AC composition and CSR performance and assurance are positively linked. Moreover, AC resources, incentives, and diligence increase CSR reporting.Research limitations/applications – This study stresses the need for linking AC composition with sustainability, the inclusion of moderator and especially mediator variables, and addressing endogeneity concerns via advanced regression models.Originality/value – This paper reports the first literature review on the interaction between AC and CSR. It presents the main variables that have been included in previous studies, the limitations of these studies, and useful recommendations for future research, business practice, and regulators.

KW - Audit committee

KW - CSR assurance

KW - CSR performance

KW - CSR reporting

KW - Financial expertise

KW - Stakeholder–agency theory

KW - Management studies

KW - Sustainability sciences, Management & Economics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208215910&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/9772092a-00fa-3934-82a2-e9cb674a8256/

U2 - 10.1108/CG-04-2024-0227

DO - 10.1108/CG-04-2024-0227

M3 - Scientific review articles

AN - SCOPUS:85208215910

JO - Corporate Governance (Bingley)

JF - Corporate Governance (Bingley)

SN - 1472-0701

ER -