This research project explores how companies disclose information, proposing a new approach that views disclosures as a continuum rather than a simple dichotomy.
Accounting disclosure is essential for understanding how companies share information and the impact of their choices. This project aims to test a new idea that disclosures should be seen as a continuum, ranging from voluntary and innovative to mandatory, using both financial and non-financial (e.g., Environmental, Social, and Governance - ESG) disclosures.
This project aims to improve sustainable corporate governance by providing clearer definitions and better categorisation of disclosures.
Redefining corporate disclosures
Understanding how companies label and categorise their disclosures helps us grasp the broader corporate information environment and the consequences of their choices.
Our research project aims to improve sustainable corporate governance by providing clearer definitions and better categorisation of disclosures.
Often disclosure is defined in a less than rigorous manner, mislabelled, misclassified and uses a strict dichotomy that limits information quality.
Our project is pioneering in viewing corporate disclosures as a continuum rather than a simple dichotomy. We build on this idea by offering practical examples of how this continuum can be applied. Our findings will benefit both financial and non-financial reporting fields, promoting better corporate governance.
Our research also highlights the importance of accurately defining voluntary disclosures in studies. It provides examples of truly voluntary and innovative disclosures by companies, helping to reduce mislabelling and misclassification. This approach not only improves the quality of information available to stakeholders but also supports more effective corporate governance.
Our approach
The project will conduct several studies to test the continuum theory in practice. Examples include:
- Comparing financial reporting disclosures across different countries
- Examining financial reporting disclosures within a single country
- Analysing financial reporting disclosures on a case-by-case basis
- Comparing non-financial reporting disclosures across different countries
- Examining non-financial reporting disclosures within a single country
- Analysing non-financial reporting disclosures on a case-by-case basis
Meet the Principal Investigator(s) for the project
Professor Kevin McMeeking - Kevin McMeeking is a Professor of Accounting at 明星八卦 University and a Visiting Professor at the University of Exeter. Prior to joining 明星八卦 in September 2020, Kevin completed his undergraduate degree in Accounting and Financial Analysis at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, a PhD in Accounting at Lancaster University and researched and taught at the University of Exeter from 1998-2020. His research interests are interdisciplinary in nature and seek to use financial analysis, financial reporting and non financial reporting disclosures to help secure effective sustainable corporate governance. His work focuses on the governance processes, structures and systems that underpin corporate actions and accountability and the role that financial and non-financial disclosures play in capital markets. This work has been published in journals such as Accounting and Business Research, British Accounting Review, Critical Perspectives on Accounting, International Journal of Accounting etc.
He is particularly interested in supervising PhD students in the fields of disclosure (financial and non financial reporting), corporate finance and assurance. Current PhD projects are broadreaching and include investigating the impact and value of performance audits, the simplification of the UK tax system and the effect of the EU emission trading scheme on corporate performance.
His teaching specialisms lie in financial accounting, financial statement analysis, and research methods and philosophies - at the undergraduate, postgraduate and executive levels.
Kevin is also on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kev-mcmeeking-0044b710/
Related Research Group(s)
Accounting and Auditing - Investigating current issues in accounting that include financial reporting, assurance, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and business models in large and small business entities
Partnering with confidence
Organisations interested in our research can partner with us with confidence backed by an external and independent benchmark: The Knowledge Exchange Framework. Read more.
Project last modified 03/12/2024