disclosure and performance (Patten, 2002). As
such, others (like Clarkson, et al, 2008)
consider the predictions from these theories to
be contradictory. In this study, however, the
predictions from both theories are considered
complementary rather than competing.
In line with the voluntary disclosure theory, it
appeals to intuition that firms adopting BSC
and collecting sustainability data have more
incentive to provide public disclosure to signal
their ‘superior type’. It would be difficult for
inferior performers (non-BSC adopters) to
mimic the disclosure practice of superior
performers as suggested in the voluntary
disclosure literature. As such, we would expect
that the SR and BSC disclosers would
outperform the non-disclosers in terms of
shareholder returns and market perception.
Hence, the following hypotheses are
introduced:
H1: Sustainability and BSC disclosures are
significantly associated with shareholder
returns (growth in earnings per share) as
implied in the voluntary disclosure theory.
H2: Sustainability and BSC disclosures are
significantly associated with market perception
(growth in year-end share price) as implied in
the voluntary disclosure theory.
Similarly, in line with the socio-political
theories, sustainability and BSC reporting is a
function of the political and social pressures
faced by the firm. To the extent that companies
that are large and those that belong to
environmentally sensitive industries (ESI) face
more societal scrutiny, these firms are more
likely to provide more disclosure. Thus, the
following hypotheses are developed:
H3: Sustainability and BSC disclosures are
significantly associated with the size of the
firm as implied in socio-political theories.
H4: Sustainability and BSC disclosures are
significantly associated with the industry as
implied in socio-political theories.