The relevance of national contexts for corporate carbon disclosure: a cross-cultural analysis.

Bandeira Pinheiro, Alan; de Araújo Zafalon, Vanessa Marques; de Oliveira, Camila Maria; Witt Haddad Carraro, Wendy Beatriz

Goal: This paper aims to investigate the influence of the country's national culture on carbon disclosure. Methodology/approach: Our research analyzed five cultural dimensions of the GLOBE Project (uncertainty avoidance, future orientation, power distance, societal collectivism, and gender egalitarianism) of the ten largest economies in the world and their statistical influences on the carbon disclosure of 1,072 companies. Originality/relevance: Despite numerous studies seeking to analyze which factors influence corporate carbon disclosure, it is still unclear how factors external to organizations can shape a company's performance in terms of emissions disclosure practices. Main findings: The results indicate that in countries with greater uncertainty avoidance and less power inequality, companies exhibit more responsible behavior regarding the disclosure of their carbon emissions. In addition, we found that in environments with greater gender equality, companies are more environmentally transparent. Theoretical contributions: This research confirms the Institutional Theory by showing that the institutional environment affects the performance of companies and presents new evidence that national culture influences carbon disclosure practices. Management contributions: Managers operating in such environments must be aware of these cultural barriers and develop strategies to overcome them, such as implementing internal governance reforms that encourage transparency and engaging with stakeholders to foster a culture of openness.

Revista de Ciências da Administração, 2024, Vol 26, Issue 66, p1

1516-3865

Academic Journal

10.5007/2175-8077.2024.e86562