Corporate Accountability Reporting and High-Profile Misconduct

Posted: 28 Jul 2015 Last revised: 5 Mar 2016

Date Written: June 30, 2015

Abstract

I investigate whether corporate accountability reporting helps protect firm value. Specifically, I examine: 1) whether corporate accountability reporting helps firms prevent the occurrence of high-profile misconduct (e.g., bribery, kickbacks, discrimination), and 2) whether prior corporate accountability reporting reduces the negative stock price reaction when high-profile misconduct does occur. Using multiple methods to address self-selection, I find that, on average, firms that report on their corporate accountability activities are less likely to engage in high-profile misconduct, consistent with the reporting process helping firms to manage their operations better. Additionally, I find that when high-profile misconduct does occur, firms that have previously issued corporate accountability reports experience a less negative stock price reaction, consistent with corporate accountability reports influencing perceptions of managerial intent, which in turn influences expected punishments.

Keywords: corporate accountability reporting, corporate social responsibility, misconduct

Suggested Citation

Christensen, Dane M., Corporate Accountability Reporting and High-Profile Misconduct (June 30, 2015). The Accounting Review, Vol. 91, No. 2, 2016 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2636627

Dane M. Christensen (Contact Author)

University of Oregon ( email )

1280 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
1,551
PlumX Metrics