Determinants of corporate social disclosure in Saudi Arabia: The role of social values and IFRS convergence

• Main Author: AlShetwi, Mohammed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Growing Science 2021-01-01
• Series: Accounting
• Online Access: http://www.growingscience.com/ac/Vol7/ac_2021_104.pdf

This study investigates whether Corporate Social Disclosure (CSD) is affected by IFRS convergence and social value in a country that has strict societal norms (Saudi Arabia). Using a sample of 292 Saudi manufacturing and utilities firms listed on the Saudi Capital Market during the period of 2015-2019, the study finds that IFRS convergence is not related to the CSD of the Saudi manufacturing and utilities firms. On the other hand, social values (as modeled by adopting CSD as a strategic objective) are significantly related to CSD. These results provide evidence supporting the view that CSD is influenced by social values rather than the change in the corporate disclosure environment in countries that exhibit strong conformity to societal values, such as Saudi Arabia. Overall, the current study adds to an understanding of the factors that determine CSD outside the shareholder-stakeholder orientation model.