The purpose of the study is to investigate how firms disclose information in their integrated report (IR) on intellectual capital (IC), regarding its components and their link with the value creation process. Therefore, by adopting a content analysis methodology, the study, which covers three years (2014–2016), is focused on IC. A sample of firms belonging to the financial services sector is investigated by analysing 135 integrated reports. The main findings show that firms, on the one hand, provide information on IC by adopting a classification close to those outlined by IC scholars; on the other hand, the vast majority of the investigated firms tends to adopt a superficial approach. More specifically, firms disclose a low amount of information about the link between IC and the value creation process, even though they are aware of its importance.

In recent years, an increasing number of accounting scholars have been investigating the concept and the purpose of integrated reporting. After the issue of IIRC Framework, which is principle-based, it is now recognized that there is an urgent need for empirical analysis of the content of the reports at their first development stage. This in order to understand if the aims of this new reporting approach are realistic and achievable in practice. This paper responds to such call and it tries to contribute in two ways. Firstly, it illustrates the way in which the Guiding Principle of Connectivity of Information is applied at international level. In particular, we analyzed the compliance of disclosure practices in integrated reports of 2013 with the key forms of Connectivity of information presented in the Framework. Secondly, the paper tries to interpret the practices observed, in order to identify useful implementation criteria of this Guiding Principle. This is light of the fact that the Guiding Principle was noted as the most important to obtain a truly integrated report, but, at the same time, difficult to interpret and problematic to apply. The results of the analysis indicate an application of the principle extremely heterogeneous (and in such cases disappointing), confirming the need to establish practical guidelines to apply it. By this study, we made a preliminary attempt to identify some characteristic attributes of Connectivity of information within integrated reporting. The findings carry implications for eventual refinement of the IIRC Framework and, especially, to support companies wishing to prepare an integrated report.

This study aims to evaluate three dimensions proposed by the IFAC (International Federation of Accountants) in relation to impact financial sustainability. These dimensions are service, revenue, and debt. In 2017 and 2018, a regression analysis was conducted for Italian local governments on the different components of financial sustainability. Based on goal-setting theory, and in combination with the ambition to pursue adequate good financial sustainability, significant results were demonstrated. It was seen that these local governments would have to maintain a good level of autonomy with current revenue. They would also need to control the quantity and quality of service in order to pursue financial sustainability. This study suggests practical implications for policymakers and the managerial class, and it seeks to identify methods to drive and keep financial sustainability under control. It also seeks to define current and future management strategies that focus on pursuing intergenerational equity in local governments.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the risk measures and the volatility of total comprehensive income (TCI), other comprehensive income (OCI), and single OCI components in the European context. Previous studies only cover reporting jurisdictions such as the United States and Canada but never the EU. Based on these premises, this research uses a sample of 166 listed banks, selected from 15 European countries. The results show that there is a significant positive association between the stock return volatility and the volatility of TCI, of OCI, and some of the single OCI components. This study contributes to the international debate on the risk relevance of TCI and its components, observing, in addition to previous research, the association not only between the risk measures and the volatility of TCI and OCI but also between the risk measures and the volatility of single OCI components.

A partire dai bilanci dell'esercizio 2009, l'applicazione dello IAS 1 revised richiede al conto economico l'evidenza del total comprehensive income, una misura di performance che si ottiene sommando alla tradizionale figura del profit or loss quei valori non realizzati (segnatamente, variazioni di fair value) che, in precedenza, erano iscritti direttamente a patrimonio netto e quindi non partecipavano alla formazione del reddito di periodo. Con questa ricerca gli autori si pongono l'obiettivo di misurare l'impatto che l'adozione del prospetto di conto economico complessivo ha comportato sulla rappresentazione della performance periodica d'impresa, in Italia e Francia, osservando l'entità e la volatilità del nuovo risultato economico, nonché la sua composizione.