Lessons from the Third Wave: A reflection on the rediscovery of Corporate Social Responsibility by the mainstream accounting research community

Titolo Rivista FINANCIAL REPORTING
Autori/Curatori Dennis M. Patten
Anno di pubblicazione 2013 Fascicolo 2013/2 Lingua Inglese
Numero pagine 18 P. 9-26 Dimensione file 648 KB
DOI 10.3280/FR2013-002002
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

Qui sotto puoi vedere in anteprima la prima pagina di questo articolo.

Se questo articolo ti interessa, lo puoi acquistare (e scaricare in formato pdf) seguendo le facili indicazioni per acquistare il download credit. Acquista Download Credits per scaricare questo Articolo in formato PDF

Anteprima articolo

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

In this paper, I reflect on what I, as a long-time member of the social and environmentalaccounting community, see as both the positive and negative aspects ofwhat I refer to as the ‘third wave’ of corporate social responsibility (CSR) researchby more mainstream accounting researchers. I note that CSR-themed articles havebeen published in the primary mainstream journals, in waves (and a ripple), sincethe 1960s, and I review those contributions. More importantly, I attempt to assesswhat the newest wave of research adds to the body of knowledge, and how thatmight have implications for the social and environmental accounting community.

Keywords:Social and environmental accounting; corporate social responsibilityreporting; mainstream accounting.

  1. Anderson J.C., Frankle A.W. (1980), Voluntary Social Reporting: An Iso-Beta Portfolio Analysis, The Accounting Review, 55(3), pp. 467-479.
  2. Balakrishnan R.G., Sprinkle B., Williamson M.G. (2011), Contracting Benefits of Corporate Giving: An Experimental Investigation, The Accounting Review, 86(6), pp. 1887-1907, DOI: 10.2308/accr-10127
  3. Barth M.E., McNichols M.F. (1994), “Estimation and Market Valuation of Environmental Liabilities Relating to Superfund Sites”, Journal of Accounting Research, 32(3), pp. 177-209, DOI: 10.2307/2491446
  4. Beatty A., Liao S. (2013), What do U.S. Multinationals’ Voluntary Geographical Employment Disclosures Tell Us?, Working paper, The Ohio State University.
  5. Bedford N.M. (1973), Corporate Accountability, Management Accounting (November), pp. 41-44.
  6. Blacconiere W.G., Patten D.M. (1994), Environmental Disclosure, Regulatory Costs, and Changes in Firm Value, Journal of Accounting and Economics, 18, pp. 357-377, DOI: 10.1016/0165-4101(94)90026-4
  7. Brummet R.L., Flamholtz E.G., Pyle W.C. (1968), Human Resource Measurement – A Challenge for Accountants, The Accounting Review, 43(2), pp. 217-224.
  8. Buzby S.L., Falk H. (1978), A Survey of the Interest in Social Responsibility Information by Mutual Funds, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 3, pp. 191-201, DOI: 10.1016/0361-3682(78)90011-9
  9. Buzby S.L., Falk H. (1979), Demand for Social Responsibility Information by University Investors, The Accounting Review, 54(1), pp. 23-37.
  10. Chatterji A.K., Levine D.I., Toffel M.W. (2009), How Well Do Social Ratings Actually Measure Corporate Social Responsibility?, Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, 18(1), pp. 125-169, DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00210.x
  11. Chen R.S. (1975), Social and Financial Stewardship, The Accounting Review, 50(3), pp. 533-543.
  12. Cho C.H., Patten D.M. (2007), The Role of Environmental Disclosures as Tools of Legitimacy: A Research Note, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 32(7-8), pp. 639-647, DOI: 10.1016/j.aos.2006.09.009
  13. Cho C.H., Patten D.M. (2010), Social and Environmental Accounting Research in North America: A Research Note, Advances in Environmental Accounting and Management, 4, pp. 161-177, DOI: 10.1108/S1479-3598(2010)0000004010
  14. Cho C.H., Guidry R.P., Hageman A.M., Patten D.M. (2012), Do Actions Speak Louder than Words? An Empirical Investigation of Corporate Environmental Reputation, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 37(1), pp. 14-25, DOI: 10.1016/j.aos.2011.12.001
  15. Churchman C.W. (1971), On the Facility, Felicity, and Morality of Measuring Social Change, The Accounting Review, 46(1), pp. 30-35.
  16. Clarkson P.M., Li Y., Richardson G.D. (2004), The Market Valuation of Environmental Capital Expenditures by Pulp and Paper Companies, The Accounting Review, 79(2), pp. 329-353, DOI: 10.2308/accr.2004.79.2.329
  17. Clarkson P.M., Li Y., Richardson G.D., Vasvari F.P. (2008), Revisiting the Relation between Environmental Performance and Environmental Disclosure: An Empirical Analysis, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 33(4-5), pp. 303-327, DOI: 10.1016/j.aos.2007.05.003
  18. Deegan C., Soltys S. (2007), Social Accounting Research: An Australasian Perspective, Accounting Forum, 31(1), pp. 73-89, DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2006.11.001
  19. Dhaliwal D.S., Li O.Z., Tsang A., Yang G.Y. (2011), Voluntary Nonfinancial Disclosure and the Cost of Equity Capital: The Initiation of Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting, The Accounting Review, 86(1), pp. 59-100,
  20. 10.2308/accr.00000005.
  21. Dhaliwal D.S., Radhakrishnan S., Tsang A., Yang Y.G. (2012), Nonfinancial Disclosure and Analyst Forecast Accuracy: International Evidence on Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure, The Accounting Review, 87(3), pp. 723-759, DOI: 10.2308/accr-10218
  22. Dimson E., Karakas O., Li X. (2013), Active Ownership, Working paper, London Business School.
  23. Ernst & Ernst (1973), Social Responsibility Disclosure. (Cleveland, OH: Ernst & Ernst).
  24. Estes R.W. (1972), Socio-Economic Accounting and External Diseconomies, The Accounting Review, 47(2), pp. 284-290.
  25. Evans III J.H. (2012), Introduction, The Accounting Review, 87(3), pp. 721-722, DOI: 10.2308/accr-10279
  26. Flamholtz E. (1971), A Model for Human Resource Valuation: A Stochastic Process with Service Rewards, The Accounting Review, 46(2), pp. 253-267.
  27. Flamholtz E. (1972), Towards a Theory of Human Resource Value in Formal Organizations, The Accounting Review, 47(4), pp. 666-678.
  28. Francis M.E. (1973), Accounting and the Evaluation of Social Programs: A Critical Comment, The Accounting Review, 48(2), pp. 245-257.
  29. Gao F., Lisic L.L., Zhang I. (2013), Corporate Social Responsibility and Insider Trading: The Role of Reputational Costs, Working paper, University of Illinois, Chicago.
  30. Gray R., Hoepner A.G.F. (2011), PLEASE CITE THIS: An Exploratory Paper on Citations, Impacts and the Social Accounting Literature, Social and Environmental Accountability Journal, 31(1), pp. 25-47, DOI: 10.1080/0969160X.2011.556392
  31. Guthrie J., Parker L. (1990), Corporate Social Disclosure Practice: A Comparative International Analysis, Advances in Pubic Interest Accounting, 3, pp. 159-176.
  32. Hasselback J.R., Reinstein A., Abdolmohammadi M. (2012), Benchmarking the Research Productivity of Accounting Doctorates, Issues in Accounting Education, 27 (4), pp. 943-978, DOI: 10.2308/iace-50253
  33. Healy P., Serafeim G. (2013), Causes and Consequences of Firms’ Self-Reported Anticorruption Efforts, Working paper, Harvard Business School.
  34. Heard J.E., Bolce W.J. (1981), The Political Significance of Corporate Social Reporting in the United States of America, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 6(3), pp. 247-254, DOI: 10.1016/0361-3682(81)90030-1
  35. Hughes II K.E. (2000), The Value Relevance of Nonfinancial Measures of Air Pollution in the Electric Utility Industry, The Accounting Review, 75(2), pp. 209-228, DOI: 10.2308/accr.2000.75.2.209.IngramR.W.(1978),AnInvestigationoftheInformationContentof(Certain)SocialResponsibilityDisclosures,JournalofAccountingResearch,16(2),pp.270-285,doi:10.2307/2490567
  36. Ingram R.W., Frazier K.B. (1980), Environmental Performance and Corporate Disclosure, Journal of Accounting Research, 18(2), pp. 614-622, DOI: 10.2307/2490597
  37. Jaggi B., Lau H. (1974), Toward a Model for Human Resource Valuation, The Accounting Review, 49 (2), pp. 321-329.
  38. Joshi S., Krishnan R., Lave L. (2001), Estimating the Hidden Costs of Environmental Regulation, The Accounting Review, 76(2), pp. 171-198, DOI: 10.2308/accr.2001.76.2.171
  39. Kennedy J., Mitchell T., Sefcik S.E. (1998), Disclosure of Contingent Environmental Liabilities: Some Unintended Consequences?, Journal of Accounting Research, 36(2), pp. 257-277, DOI: 10.2307/2491477
  40. Kim Y., Park M.S., Weir B. (2012), Is Earnings Quality Associated with Corporate Social Responsibility?, The Accounting Review, 87(3), pp. 761-796, DOI: 10.2308/accr-10209
  41. Linowes D.F. (1968), Socio-Economic Accounting, Journal of Accountancy (November), pp. 37-42.
  42. Lys T., Naughton J.P., Wang C. (2013), Signaling Through Corporate Accountability Reporting, Working paper, Northwestern University.
  43. Martin P.R., Moser D.V. (2013), Managers’ Green Investment and Related Disclosures, Working paper, University of Pittsburgh.
  44. Mathews M.R. (1997), Twenty-five Years of Social and Environmental Accounting Research: Is There a Silver Jubilee to Celebrate?, Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 10(4), pp. 481-531, DOI: 10.1108/EUM0000000004417
  45. Mobley S. (1970), The Challenges of Socio-Economic Accounting, The Accounting Review, 44(4): 762-768.
  46. Moser D.V., Martin P.R. (2012), A Broader Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility Research in Accounting, The Accounting Review, 87(2), pp. 797-806, DOI: 10.2308/accr-10257
  47. Owen D. (2008), Chronicles of Wasted Time? A Personal Reflection of the Current State of, and Future Prospects for, Social and Environmental Accounting Research, Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 21(2), pp. 240-267, DOI: 10.1108/09513570810854428
  48. Parker L. (1986), Polemical Themes in Social Accounting: A Scenario for Standard Setting, Advances in Public Interest Accounting, 1, pp. 67-93.
  49. Patten D.M. (1991), Exposure, Legitimacy and Social Disclosure, Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 10(4), pp. 297-308, DOI: 10.1016/0278
  50. 4254(91)90003-3.
  51. Patten D.M. (1992), Intra-industry Environmental Disclosures in Response to the Alaskan Oil Spill, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 17(5), pp. 471-475, DOI: 10.1016/0361-3682(92)90042-Q
  52. Patten D.M. (1995), Variability in Social Disclosure: A Legitimacy-Based Analysis, Advances in Public Interest Accounting, 6, pp. 273-285. Petrovits C. (2006), Corporate-Sponsored Foundations and Earnings Management, Journal of Accounting and Economics, 41, pp. 335-362, DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2005.12.001
  53. Ramanathan K. (1976), Toward a Theory of Corporate Social Accounting, The Accounting Review, 51(3), pp. 516-528.
  54. Roberts R.W. (1992), Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: An Application of Stakeholder Theory, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 17(6), pp. 595-612, DOI: 10.1016/0361-3682(92)90015-
  55. Schreuder H. (1981), Employees and the Corporate Social Responsibility Report: The Dutch Case, The Accounting Review, 56(2), pp. 294-308.
  56. Shane P.B., Spicer B.H. (1983), Market Response to Environmental Information Produced Outside the Firm, The Accounting Review, 58(3), pp. 521-538.
  57. Seidler L.J., Seidler L.L. (1975), Social Accounting: Theory Issues, and Cases. (Los Angeles: Melville Publishing Co.).
  58. Simnett R., Vanstraelen A., Chua W.F. (2009), Assurance on sustainability reports: an international comparison, The Accounting Review, 84(3), pp. 937-967, DOI: 10.2308/accr.2009.84.3.937
  59. Spicer B.H. (1978), Investors, Corporate Social Performance and Information Disclosure: An Empirical Study, The Accounting Review, 53(1), pp. 94-111.
  60. Stevens D.E. (2002), The Effects of Reputation and Ethics on Budgetary Slack, Journal of Management Accounting Research, 14, pp. 153-171,
  61. 10.2308/jmar.2002.14.1.153.
  62. Williams P.F. (1980), The Evaluative Relevance of Social Data, The Accounting Review, 55(1), pp. 62-77.
  63. Wiseman J. (1982), An Evaluation of Environmental Disclosures Made in Corporate Annual Reports, Accounting, Organizations and Society, 7(1), pp. 53-63, DOI: 10.1016/0361-3682(82)90025-3

  • On the centrality of peripheral research and the dangers of tight boundary gatekeeping Yves Gendron, Michelle Rodrigue, in Critical Perspectives on Accounting 102076/2021 pp.102076
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2019.02.003
  • Accounting research boundaries, multiple centers and academic empathy Giovanna Michelon, in Critical Perspectives on Accounting 102204/2021 pp.102204
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2020.102204
  • Nonfinancial Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting and Firm Value: International Evidence on the Role of Financial Analysts Albert Tsang, Kun Tracy Wang, Yue Wu, Jeff Lee, in European Accounting Review /2024 pp.399
    DOI: 10.1080/09638180.2022.2094435
  • Integration of Research Perspectives in Sustainability Accounting – A Systematic Literature Review and a Citation Network Study Ute Laun, Katrin Hummel, in SSRN Electronic Journal /2021
    DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3979843
  • Seeking legitimacy Dennis M. Patten, in Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal /2019 pp.1009
    DOI: 10.1108/SAMPJ-12-2018-0332
  • Advances in Environmental Accounting & Management: Social and Environmental Accounting in Brazil Martin Freedman, Bikki Jaggi, pp.1 (ISBN:978-1-78635-376-4)
  • CSR disclosure: the more things change…? Charles H. Cho, Giovanna Michelon, Dennis M. Patten, Robin W. Roberts, in Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal /2015 pp.14
    DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-12-2013-1549
  • Challenges in Managing Sustainable Business Susanne Arvidsson, pp.3 (ISBN:978-3-319-93265-1)
  • Current Global Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility Selena Aureli, Maria Gabriella Baldarelli, Mara Del Baldo, pp.213 (ISBN:978-3-030-68385-6)
  • The impact of community expectations on corporate community involvement disclosures in the UK Kemi C. Yekini, Ismail Adelopo, Emmanuel Adegbite, in Accounting Forum /2017 pp.234
    DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2016.12.006
  • Challenges in Managing Sustainable Business Susanne Arvidsson, Jeaneth Johansson, pp.77 (ISBN:978-3-319-93265-1)
  • The New Wave of CSR-Related Mainstream Accounting Research: On the Performative Effects of Literature Reviews Manuel Castelo Branco, in Social and Environmental Accountability Journal /2024 pp.37
    DOI: 10.1080/0969160X.2024.2319882
  • Critical perspectives on social and environmental accounting Charles H. Cho, Sophie Giordano-Spring, in Critical Perspectives on Accounting /2015 pp.1
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2015.09.001
  • The first impact of EU regulation on non-financial disclosure: An exploratory analysis in the oil & gas sector Cristian Carini, Laura Rocca, Monica Veneziani, Claudio Teodori, in Corporate Ownership and Control /2019 pp.24
    DOI: 10.22495/cocv17i1art3
  • Global financial crisis and relevance of GRI disclosure in Italy. Insights from the stakeholder theory and the legitimacy theory Luca Fornaciari, Caterina Pesci, in FINANCIAL REPORTING 1/2018 pp.67
    DOI: 10.3280/FR2018-001003
  • Ex-Ante Impact Assessment of Sustainability Information–The Directive 2014/95 Cristian Carini, Laura Rocca, Monica Veneziani, Claudio Teodori, in Sustainability /2018 pp.560
    DOI: 10.3390/su10020560
  • Quantitative research and the critical accounting project Alan J. Richardson, in Critical Perspectives on Accounting /2015 pp.67
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cpa.2015.04.007
  • The Role of the Social and Environmental Accounting Community ‘Post’ Pandemic Carmen Correa Ruiz, José Juan Déniz Mayor, Nuria Descalzo Ruiz, Jesse Dillard, in Social and Environmental Accountability Journal /2023 pp.56
    DOI: 10.1080/0969160X.2023.2169318

Dennis M. Patten, Lessons from the Third Wave: A reflection on the rediscovery of Corporate Social Responsibility by the mainstream accounting research community in "FINANCIAL REPORTING" 2/2013, pp 9-26, DOI: 10.3280/FR2013-002002