Suchergebnisse

The Directive 2014/95 EU, 22 October 2014, on disclosure of non-financial information, marks the beginning of a new stage in reporting of companies in the European Union (EU). This directive was transposed to Portugal through the Decree-Law No. 89/2017, of 28th July. This legislation establishes that large public interest companies, with more than 500 employees, must present annually, and since the 2017 financial year, a non-financial statement, included in the management report or presented in a separate report. The aim of this paper to analyse the publication of non-financial information by Portuguese listed companies, seeking to assess the level of compliance with the DL 89/17. Methodology: Content analysis of the management reports, accounts and sustainability reports, relative to the 2017 period. To assess the level of compliance with the Portuguese diploma, we have developed a disclosure index, built on mandatory disclosure requirements provided for in DL No. 89/2017. Originality: This paper contributes to European research in the field of non-financial reporting by providing empirical evidence in our country, Portugal, where existing studies are still scarce. Findings: We have found the following types of non-financial reporting: the use of own/separate report (in 37.5% of the sample) or the inclusion of information in the report and accounts (in 62.5% of the sample), with the majority presenting the information in a specific chapter. Regarding the compliance with DL 89/2017, we have concluded that the level of regulatory compliance is quite high, since the average disclosure index is around 0.875. The least disclosed items were the fight against corruption and bribery attempts, bodies diversity policies and human rights. Practical implications: The results obtained may contribute to the accounting regulatory bodies, with regard to potential enforcement mechanisms, in case of non-compliance with the diploma. They can also serve as a learning process for unlisted companies, or other types of companies not covered by the diploma, who are interested in implementing non-financial reporting practices.

The level of globalization presented in the 21st century generates in the companies an extremely complex and competitive business environment, requiring efforts to improve the information disclosed, to ensure a higher level of transparency and comparability between different countries. In this context, the Non-Financial Reporting Directive 2014/95 / EU as implemented, since 2017, the obligation for public interest companies with more than 500 employees to disclose information with a description of the business model, policies, risks, environmental and social performance, as well as measures for workers, respect for human rights, gender equality and the fight against corruption and bribery. This study assessed the degree of compliance with Decree-Law (DL) No. 89/2017, which transposed that directive to Portugal, by companies listed on Euronext Lisbon, through an analysis of the content of their management reports, accounts and sustainability reports, based on a disclosure index, built on eight mandatory disclosure items. Through a linear regression model, we have also identified the explanatory factors for the disclosure index of each entity. The results allow us to conclude that the degree of compliance with DL 89/2017 is quite high, since the average disclosure index is around 0.875. The least disclosed items were the fight against corruption and bribery attempts, bodies diversity policies and human rights. From the linear regression model we have concluded that only the size of the company and the type of report are statistically significant factors, explaining 30.40% of the value obtained in the disclosure index.

Purpose
Some studies investigate the determinants of sustainability/integrated reporting in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). However, empirical research is still very embryonic in the scope of sustainable development goals (SDGs). As far as the authors are aware, previous research related to reporting in HEIs has not considered the linkage with the SDGs. Thus, this paper aims to analyse the disclosure on the websites of the Portuguese HEIs regarding the SDGs and their determinant factors.


Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on content analysis of the information disclosed on the websites of all Portuguese HEIs. Through bivariate and multivariate statistics analysis, the authors also aim to identify the explanatory factors for the SDGs reporting (such as geographical location – coast/inland, HEIs' size, educational system – Universities and polytechnics, institutional status – public and private).


Findings
The results indicate that 63.6% of Portuguese HEIs disclose information on SDGs in their websites. Findings of bivariate analysis revealed that public and larger HEIs are those that disclose more information about SDG on their websites. However, the logit regression result found that size is the only determinant factor of SDGs reporting.


Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is the first Portuguese approach to SDGs reporting in the Portuguese higher education sector. The results will be of interest to policymakers and regulators who decide to implement and standardize SDGs reporting at higher education, as well as of HEIs' managers who wish to follow these new trends in their reporting cycle.