Accounting and social capital: A review and reflections on future research opportunities

Villiers, Charl de; Torre, Matteo La; Botes, Vida

doi:10.1111/acfi.12948

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 150 publications

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“…(3) foundations: Notions of value, capital, materiality and boundary (Abela, 2022;Abhayawansa, 2022;Adams et al, 2021;Adams and Mueller, 2022;de Villiers et al, 2022;Giner and Luque-Vílchez, 2022;Jørgensen et al, 2022); and (4) operationalizations: Harmonization, governance and measurement systems (Adams and Abhayawansa, 2022;Costa et al, 2022).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By adopting the GRI approach to materiality, the complexity of tracking the impacts of different facets of sustainability begins to translate into practice. However, this notion could be further refined to address the issues raised by SEA scholars who suggest aligning the various definitions (de Villiers et al , 2022) or adopting the “single” materiality concept (Abhayawansa, 2022).…”

Section: Theorizing the Future Of Global Reporting Initiative: Addres...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our argument revolves around whether complexity should be flattened or addressed. The current evolution of the sustainability framework and regulations is not designed to deal with complexity, but to flatten it (de Villiers et al , 2022). The business and economic world is developing in complex and multifaceted ways, while the interrelations with social and environmental issues are increasing (Espinosa and Porter, 2011; Bebbington et al , 2019), and the approaches adopted thus far appear too simplistic (Adams and Abhayawansa, 2022).…”

Section: Conclusion: Flattening Versus Addressing Complexitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Flattening or addressing complexity? The future role of GRI in light of the sustainability accounting (r)evolution

Pesci

Vola

Gelmini

2023

SAMPJ

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Purpose This paper discusses the evolution of sustainability reporting and the role of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in relation to the social and environmental accounting (SEA) literature calling for a revolution in the standardization of sustainability reporting and the inherent complexities. This paper focuses on the future role of GRI in light of the changes resulting from harmonization supported by the International Sustainability Standards Board and the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group’s draft European Sustainability Reporting Directive. Design/methodology/approach Building on Bourdieu (1983, 1992) and SEA studies, the authors adopt a critical and qualitative approach to theorize power dynamics in the sustainability reporting field. After identifying the main issues arising from the complexity of the sustainability reporting standards and practices according to SEA scholars, the authors connect them with Bourdieu’s (1992, 1983) field theory to discuss the future role of GRI. Findings The findings suggest two distinct but intertwined roles that GRI could play in the future, namely, power related and theoretical/technical, aimed at engendering revolutionary rather than evolutionary changes in sustainability reporting. Practical implications This study offers practical implications for GRI to strengthen its future role in sustainability reporting standardization. Social implications The limited time available to mitigate the disastrous consequences of non-sustainable business on society and the environment calls for urgently addressing the complexities of sustainability accounting to foster a positive impact on society and the environment. Originality/value The authors’ reflections reclaim the SEA literature as central to identifying sustainability complexity and Bourdieu’s (1983, 1992) notions of power as key to understanding the role of GRI in the sustainability field. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes the intersection of different critical concepts, including power, complexity, value, capital and materiality.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theorizing the Future Of Global Reporting Initiative: Addres...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conclusion: Flattening Versus Addressing Complexitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Flattening or addressing complexity? The future role of GRI in light of the sustainability accounting (r)evolution

Pesci

Vola

Gelmini

2023

SAMPJ

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“…A few fields of research in accounting are outlined and some examples of recent studies in these areas are shown for indicative purposes only. These includes research on the social impacts of accounting, including performance measurement (Power, 2015;Yang et al, 2021;Carnegie, 2022aCarnegie, , 2022b, the audit society (Jeacle and Carter, 2022), social and environmental accounting or sustainability accounting (Gray and Laughlin, 2012;Kaur and Lodhia, 2019;Lai and Stacchezzini, 2021;Atkins and McBride, 2022), corporate social responsibility (CSR) (Cho et al, 2021) and integrated reporting (Eccles and Krzus, 2010;Eccles and Saltzman, 2011;Dragu and Tiron-Tudor, 2014) and extending beyond such notions (de Villiers et al, 2022b(de Villiers et al, , 2022a as well as, more recently, the impacts of COVID-19 (Lodhia et al, 2021;Leoni et al, 2021Leoni et al, , 2022[2] Carnegie et al, 2022aCarnegie et al, , 2022d.…”

Section: Background and Informing Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and accounting as multidimensional technical, social and moral practice: a framework for future research

Carnegie

Gomes²,

McBride³

2023

MEDAR

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Purpose The purpose of this study is to augment an understanding of the importance and relevance of a proposed new definition of accounting to reset, inform and develop accounting education, professional practice and research, from tomorrow, for the purpose of shaping a better world. In the process of setting an agenda, we outline, discuss, and analyse the eight articles which follow depicting complementary and insightful scenarios during COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach This study applies an original informing framework for discussion and analysis purposes, described as Framework of the Multidimensional Nature of Accounting. The proposed, multidimensional definition is “Accounting is a technical, social and moral practice concerned with the sustainable utilisation of resources and proper accountability to stakeholders to enable the flourishing of organisations, people and nature” (2021a, p. 69, 2021b). Findings Accounting is conceived, understood and examined in the research portrayed as a combined technical, social and moral practice concerned with shaping a better world to enable the flourishing of organisations, people and nature. To the contrary, accounting is not recognised as a mere neutral, benign, technical practice. Research limitations/implications While this paper examines the other articles, there is no substitute for carefully reading, and reflecting on, all the articles published. Importantly, each contribution provides unique and comprehensive insights on accounting during the initial global pandemic period. Originality/value Accounting is studied in different organisational and social contexts against the backdrop of a global pandemic, among other “wicked problems” worldwide.

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“…An important observation from the collection of papers being reviewed is that, outside the US, the empirical literature on the consequences of local social norms is rather limited. 2 de Villiers et al (2022) provide a systematic review of the literature into the theorisation of social capital in accounting research. The authors analyse 84 articles published in top accounting journals with 31 articles extensively discussing social capital theories/theorisation throughout the article, while the other 53 only mentioning social capital.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of local social norms: A review of the literature in accounting, finance, and corporate governance

Habib

Costa

Al‐Hadi

2022

Accounting & Finance

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We synthesise the empirical archival research on the consequences of local social norms on accounting, finance, and corporate governance outcomes in an international setting. The literature reviewed is premised on the theory that corporations do not make decisions, but managers do, and managers are likely to be influenced by the socioeconomic environment of the region in which they operate and/or by the people with whom they interact. To provide a structure to our review, we identify social capital, religiosity, gambling norms, and corruption culture, as four constructs of local social norms and link these with financial reporting and external auditing, financial, investment, and dividend decisions, capital market consequences and finally, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility behaviour of firms. We highlight some limitations of the existing research and offer some suggestions for future research.

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Accounting and social capital: A review and reflections on future research opportunities

Cited by 15 publications

References 150 publications

Flattening or addressing complexity? The future role of GRI in light of the sustainability accounting (r)evolution

Flattening or addressing complexity? The future role of GRI in light of the sustainability accounting (r)evolution

COVID-19 and accounting as multidimensional technical, social and moral practice: a framework for future research

Consequences of local social norms: A review of the literature in accounting, finance, and corporate governance

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