Research type: review Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the moderating effect of cultural dimensions (masculinity; individualism; and long term orientation) on the association between profitability and corporate social and environmental disclosure (CSED). Methodology: We apply the meta-analysis technique developed by Hunter, Schmidt and Jackson (1982) and Hunter and Schmidt (2000) for a sample of 48 published studies over the period of the last twenty years. Findings: We find that masculinity, individualism and long term orientation moderate the association between profitability and CSED. Given the weight of US studies on the overall sample, we conduct a sensitivity analysis to examine how this factor may affect the findings. After excluding these studies, only long term orientation and individualism remain strong moderators of the association between profitability and CSED. Originality/value: Our study provides further evidence on the impact of institutional frameworks on CSED. It has, also, policy implications for managers of multinational corporations.

Purpose This paper aims to review studies dealing with gender issues in accounting literature over the period of 1994-2016. Design/methodology/approach This study combines electronic and manual searches to identify relevant studies using keywords such as “gender” or “female” and “earnings quality” or “social and environmental disclosure” or “auditing” or “tax aggressiveness”. In total, 64 published studies were identified. Findings Three main streams of gender accounting literature related to financial reporting (earnings quality, accounting conservatism, voluntary disclosure), auditing (audit fees, audit opinion, audit report lag) and other miscellaneous topics were identified. Gender accounting literature uses empirical analysis, experimental approaches and interviews. Reviewed studies deal with top management gender (CEO, CFO), board of directors, audit committee and auditor gender. A synthesis of empirical findings shows that female representation on the board, audit committee, CFO or CEO leads to more conservative reporting, higher level of social and environmental disclosure, less tax aggressiveness and higher audit fees. Furthermore, auditor gender influences audit quality through lower abnormal accruals and shorter audit report lag, higher likelihood of issuing an adverse audit opinion and higher audit fees. Qualitative studies dealing with miscellaneous topics in gender accounting literature generally focus on the status of women in accounting and auditing professions, gender issues in accounting academic setting and disclosure about women in annual reports. Practical implications This review informs policymakers about the effect of female representation on accounting and auditing practices given the political debate largely shaped by anti-discriminatory arguments concerning the under-representation of women in management and audit professions. Originality/value This study goes beyond a classic narrative review by presenting criticisms to gender accounting literature and suggesting future research avenues.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the empirical research literature dealing with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and auditing. The authors identify four main topics related to the effect of IFRS adoption on audit fees, audit market and audit report lag and the influence of auditor choice on IFRS compliance. Design/methodology/approach For each reviewed stream of research, the authors present its theoretical underpinning and summarize its main results. Findings Based on 26 empirical studies, the review reveals four main findings. First, IFRS adoption is associated with increased audit fees. Second, IFRS adoption has had an effect on audit market through auditor choice, audit switching and audit market concentration. Third, IFRS adoption has increased audit report lag. Finally, the authors document that audit quality, as proxied by auditor type, may play an important role in enforcing the compliance with IFRS. Practical implications For regulators the review highlights that IFRS adoption is associated with several effects dealing with audit cost (audit fees), audit efficiency (audit report lag) and may benefit audit firms with international affiliation compared to local ones and this may inform regulators in settings that plan to adopt IFRS in the future. Originality/value This literature review represents a historical record and an introduction for researchers who aim to investigate this topic in the future since the authors provide specific guidance for future research avenues for these reviewed strands of research and other unexplored topics related to auditing and IFRS.