Multilevel Approach to Sustainability Report Assurance Decisions

Belen Fernandez-Feijoo, Silvia Romero, Silvia Ruiz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using generalised linear mixed models as a statistical tool, this paper analyses the factors that explain the decision of a company to assure their sustainability report and of the choice of a Big 4 auditor as assuror. Specifically, we investigate the variables that affect the two dependent variables, existence of assurance and the profile of the assuror, at two different levels: the characteristics of the reporting company, and the country in which the company is located. Previous literature has explained this relationship as the result of linear regression models, considering only the fixed effects of the factors. Taking into account random effects, we are able to arrive at more precise conclusions on the effect of country (legal tradition and European membership) and company variables (size, public or non-public, industry and integrated reporting), on the existence of assurance and the profile of the assuror.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)346-358
Number of pages13
JournalAustralian Accounting Review
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2015

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