Impact of economic, environmental, and corporate social responsibility reporting on financial performance of UAE banks.

This study investigates the degree of sustainability disclosure of listed banks in the UAE financial markets and analyzes the effect of sustainability disclosure on banking performance. Sustainability disclosure is examined by considering three dimensions-economic, environmental, and corporate social responsibility-and using content analysis. Dynamic panel regression was used to study the impact of sustainability disclosure on banking performance by differentiating between conventional and Islamic banks. The empirical results show that banks' levels of sustainability disclosure are low. Moreover, dynamic panel data reveal that sustainability disclosure has a positive and significant impact on bank performance. The results of this study assist the Central Bank of the UAE in developing a corporate sustainability disclosure framework to improve bank transparency, reduce information asymmetry, and improve compliance with sustainability standards.

The effect of corporate governance elements on corporate social responsibility reporting of listed companies in Vietnam

This paper examines the impact of various corporate governance characteristics on the disclosure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) information in the context of developing markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data from the annual reports of the top 100 companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange from 2019 to 2021 to investigate the relationship between board independence, board size, CEO duality, foreign ownership, government ownership, and the disclosure level of CSR reporting. We employed a content analysis to measure CSR disclosure level by using the CSR reporting index (CSRRI) with 17 items. The panel regressions including three techniques like the pooled-ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects model (FEM), and random effects model (REM), were used to analyze the data, and FEM) shows its best fit to the model. The results suggest that board independence and government ownership correlate positively and significantly with companies' decisions to disclose CSR information. In contrast, board size, CEO duality, foreign ownership and was found to be insignificant. Our study extends the literature on CSR particularly in developing countries where governments play a significant role in promoting economic development. It also evaluates the CSR disclosure level of the top listed companies in Vietnam. Since then, the paper's results provide several insights to the policymakers to identify the corporate governance characteristics that will promote CSR reporting in Vietnam's listed companies.

Compatibility of the CSR practices of Islamic banks with the United Nations SDGs amidst COVID-19: a documentary evidence

Purpose - This study aims to establish whether the corporate social responsibilities (CSR) practices of Islamic banks are compatible with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Design/methodology/approach - A documentary research method was applied by examining the annual reports of selected Islamic banks from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the UAE and Malaysia for 2020, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings - The results indicate that Islamic banks discharged various CSR activities and contributed huge funds toward achieving the SDGs of the United Nations. Specifically, the banks prioritized the following CSR sectors: education, health, environmental protection and disaster relief and management. Besides, they provided support to micro and small businesses toward poverty alleviation. Research limitations/implications - This study examined only CSR reports of the selected Islamic banks for 2020. Practical implications - The findings have practical implications that may enable Islamic banks across the globe to improve their CSR initiatives, activities and reporting toward realizing the SDGs. They arc also helpful to policyrnakers and regulators for the provisions of policies and regulations to motivate or mandate Islamic banks to effectively improve their CSR practices. Social implications - CSR practices of Islamic banks can significantly support the SDGs toward mitigating many economic and social problems. Originality/value - This study applied a relevant but rarely used method to explore the role of CSR practices of Islamic banks in achieving the SDGs.

Audit committee characteristics and corporate philanthropic donations before and during COVID-19

Purpose This study aims to examine the effects of audit committee attributes on corporate philanthropic donations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The study targets Nigeria's listed firms between 2019 and 2020. We hand-collected the data from the available published annual reports of 141 and 128 firms for 2019 and 2020, respectively. Therefore, the authors used a total of 269 firm-year observations for the study. The authors used ordinary least square regression to analyze the data and Tobit regression to establish the robustness of the results. Findings The results indicate that the frequency of audit committee meetings has a significant positive relationship with corporate philanthropic donations before and during COVID-19. In the case of audit committee independence, it has only a significant positive relationship with corporate philanthropic donations during the pandemic. However, the findings reveal that audit committee size and foreign directors on the audit committee do not influence corporate philanthropic donations before and during COVID-19. Research limitations/implications The study considers audit committee characteristics out of the corporate governance mechanisms that can influence the philanthropic donations of the listed firms in Nigeria over two years from 2019 and 2020. Practical implications The findings have practical implications for encouraging the audit committee to support philanthropic donations for the welfare of the poor and the needy, particularly in difficult times like the COVID-19 period. The results could also help regulators and policymakers to provide regulations and policies that can encourage firms to participate actively in philanthropic activities to their best ability. Social implications Motivating firms to provide philanthropic donations for the welfare of underprivileged persons could strongly support the government's effort to minimize the socioeconomic problems caused by COVID-19. Originality/value The study contributes to the scant literature that establishes the impact of audit committee attributes on firm philanthropic donations toward helping the poor and the needy in difficult periods.

Corporate social responsibility disclosure and firm performance: Evidence from Vietnam

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is quite a new concept to business and society in Vietnam. Information on CSR reflects a firm's commitment to ethical behavior in its activities and reputation. However, it is questioned whether the information disclosure has any relationship with firm performance. Employing panel regression of about 200 listed firms on the Vietnam Stock Exchange and space-based measurement of CSR disclosure, the study confirms a positive impact of CSR disclosure on firm performance. Firms use CSR disclosures to indirectly improve their performance. Firms that disclose CSR with greater degree of information experience higher marginal profitability. This finding supports stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory, and signaling theory in using CSR disclosure as a tool to improve firms' reputation and transparency, maintain longterm operation, and hence improve financial performance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, firms that engage more in CSR will suffer less from the pandemic than firms that do not. Thus, the study implies a promising CSR picture for corporations in Vietnam. Investors, policy makers and any related authorities can utilize these findings to get more insight into the business through CSR disclosures. © Ngoc Mai Tran, Manh Ha Tran, 2022.