Jahidur Rahman

Given the growing pressure for indigenous stakeholder engagement, this paper explores the extent and nature of indigenous stakeholder engagement disclosures in the sustainability reporting of Australian mining companies. Drawing on stakeholder theory and legitimacy theory, this study explores how large Australian mining companies disclose their engagement with indigenous communities. A content analysis of 462 annual reports spanning 24 years was conducted to explore both the quantity and quality of indigenous stakeholder engagement disclosures among the top 20 mining companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The findings reveal a clear evolution in corporate disclosures regarding indigenous stakeholder engagement, particularly during the 2007–2010 mining boom. Companies have shifted from focusing primarily on business outcomes to emphasizing commitments to indigenous health, education, employment and land rights. This transition reflects an increased awareness of social responsibility and a deliberate effort to build and maintain legitimacy through culturally grounded narratives. The findings offer a foundation for future research on indigenous engagement practices and contribute to broader discussions about how corporate voluntary reporting is influenced by evolving social expectations. The findings of the study are relevant to academics, policymakers, activists and industry practitioners seeking to enhance engagement standards in the mining sector. The results demonstrate how stakeholder pressures and legitimacy concerns shape corporate behavior, reinforcing the role of indigenous engagement as part of companies' broader social contract and accountability to their stakeholders.

Purpose: This study investigates how family ownership and involvement in management and directorship influenced audit fees in Chinese family firms during the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging China’s unique cultural and institutional context. Design/methodology/approach: Using data from the China Stock Market and Accounting Research Database, the study analysed 18,889 firm-year observations from family-owned listed firms over the 2015–2022 period, employing two-way fixed-effect regressions, robustness tests and controls for endogeneity. Pre- and post-COVID-19 periods (2015–2018 versus 2019–2022) were compared to assess the impact of family governance on audit fees during the pandemic. Findings: The results reveal a significant negative relationship between family ownership and audit fees during COVID-19, compared to the insignificant negative pre-crisis association. Family involvement in management consistently reduced audit fees across the whole period, while directorship showed no significant effect. The findings indicate that Confucian-inspired familial alignment mitigated Type I agency problems, reducing audit risk without significantly increasing Type II agency conflicts. Practical implications: Family firms can leverage trust-based management to strengthen resilience and reduce external oversight costs, while auditors can optimise procedures for Chinese family firms, reducing costs associated with lower perceived risk. Policymakers could consider tailoring regulations to acknowledge culturally specific governance strengths. Originality/value: This study contributes to the audit fee literature by emphasising the moderating influence of Confucian values and China’s cultural and institutional environment. By demonstrating reduced audit fees in Chinese family firms during a global crisis, the study challenges Western-centric agency theory predictions.

This study investigates the influence of ownership structure, corporate governance, and external supervision on the quality of environmental accounting information disclosure (EAIDQ) in China’s mining sector. Using data from 71 Chinese A-share listed mining companies spanning 2012–2021, the study finds that while the overall EAIDQ remains low, there is a gradual improvement trend. Ownership concentration correlates significantly with EAIDQ, while corporate governance impacts non-monetary EAIDQ. Public oversight affects monetary EAIDQ, while government supervision demonstrates delayed significance on non-monetary EAIDQ. Robustness analyses confirm the reliability of these findings. This research offers insights for firms to enhance EAIDQ and for policymakers to strengthen environmental oversight. It contributes to understanding corporate environmental disclosure practices and underscores the role of governance in fostering sustainability in the mining industry.

This chapter presents a comprehensive review of domestic and international research on green accounting and information disclosure, focusing on its application within Chinese corporate contexts. Utilizing empirical data extracted from the annual reports of the Zhu Ye Group spanning from 2018 to 2022, the study examines the practical implementation of green accounting. In accordance with established green accounting standards, the study formulates green accounting balance sheets and profit sheets to assess the extent of adoption and compliance within the company. Drawing upon prior research, an in-depth analysis of Zhu Ye Group’s financial reports is conducted to illuminate the challenges encountered by Chinese enterprises in integrating green accounting practices. Through this case study, this work extrapolates potential opportunities and challenges associated with the broader implementation of green accounting in China, offering strategic recommendations to address identified obstacles. The insights derived from this study contribute to the expanding literature on the evolution of green accounting within the Chinese corporate landscape and its prospective impacts. Furthermore, the findings are anticipated to provide valuable guidance to stakeholders involved in shaping the trajectory of green accounting initiatives and governance within China.

This study investigates whether Chinese firms that implemented environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies during the COVID-19 crisis experienced less adverse effects. The analysis is based on data from companies listed in the Chinese market from 2011 to 2021, with firm performance as the dependent variable. Corporate ESG score is employed as a measure of a firm’s ESG performance. To mitigate endogeneity issues, the study utilizes the instrumental variables method, the Heckman method, propensity score matching (PSM), and replacement fixed effects. The empirical results indicate that enterprises adopting ESG policies were able to reduce the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on firm value, suggesting that the stock prices of these firms were more resilient during the crisis. In contrast, companies that did not implement ESG policies did not exhibit this resilience. Consistency of the endogeneity test and robustness test results further reinforces the robustness of the study. This research contributes to the literature by elucidating the role of ESG in mitigating the impact of major security emergencies on firm market capitalization. The findings have practical implications for business managers and practitioners, highlighting the value of ESG policies in enhancing corporate resilience during crises.

The purpose of the study is to investigate whether green accounting has impacts on corporate sustainability and financial performance in China. This study was conducted at the Chinese companies, excluding financial industries, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange for the period 2011–2020. In this study, two models are constructed to apply the regression analysis. In addition, the Hausman test is applied to determine whether to adopt the fixed-effect or the random-effect in analysing the relationship between green accounting and financial performance. Based on the results of regression analysis, the study finds that the implementation of green accounting significantly improves corporate sustainability; there is also a significant positive relationship between green accounting and the financial performance of Chinese companies. The findings of this study provide persuasive evidence to support the previous studies about the implementation of green accounting and provide support in facilitating further application of green accounting in China.

To comprehend the overall quality of enterprise environmental accounting information disclosure (EAID) and enhance China’s supervision in this domain, this research develops an evaluation index system encompassing three key aspects: relevance, reliability, and compliance. A case study on China’s steel industry is conducted, utilizing 22 evaluation indicators and collecting data from 20 listed enterprises. Given the nature of the data, a projection pursuit (PP) model is employed to process and evaluate the results. The findings indicate that the overall quality of EAID is substandard. Furthermore, the study delves into the existing challenges in enterprise environmental protection practices.

This study examines the impact of environmental information disclosure (EID) policy on the quality of EID among 248 companies in China, spanning the years 2011–2019. To quantify the EID level, six items from the evaluation components of EID are utilized. The analysis employs a regression model with fixed effects, revealing that mandatory disclosure policy significantly and positively influences the EID score. However, the presence of state-owned shares diminishes the effect of the mandatory policy on EID levels. EID serves as a channel for demonstrating corporate environmental responsibility and can be promoted through various factors, including stakeholder influence and economic and legal incentives. Consequently, this study suggests that the government should establish a comprehensive system of policy and external supervision for EID. Such measures would encourage enterprises to fulfil their environmental and economic sustainability responsibilities.

This chapter examines the relationship between corporate financial performance and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, as well as the moderating effect of firm ownership on this relationship. Utilizing data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2014 to 2020, the study employs a fixed-effect model to conduct an empirical regression analysis addressing the research questions. The financial performance of companies is quantified using economic value added (EVA), while ESG scores are sourced from the Bloomberg database. To mitigate potential endogeneity issues, the study applies the Heckman two-stage model and performs robustness tests using the computer, communication, and electronic equipment manufacturing industry. The empirical findings indicate a significant positive effect of ESG performance on corporate financial performance. Moreover, the study reveals that non-state-owned enterprises exhibit a stronger positive relationship between ESG performance and financial performance compared to state-owned enterprises. The consistency of the endogeneity and robustness tests with the main results corroborates the robustness of these findings. This research contributes to the literature by elucidating the positive impact of ESG on corporate financial performance and addressing the moderating role of firm ownership in this relationship.

As the world increasingly focuses on sustainability and climate justice, this book sets the scene by establishing the significance of carbon accounting in today’s environmental management practices. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the subject, with a specific focus on the Chinese context and sheds light on how carbon accounting practices are being integrated into corporate and national strategies. While the book has a strong focus on empirical realities in China, its exploration of carbon accounting and environmental management holds international importance. The book bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering readers in-depth insights into the intricate dynamics of carbon accounting and its implications for sustainable development, drawing on data and case studies to provide practical insights into the effectiveness of various carbon accounting approaches and their impact on environmental sustainability. It focuses on the crucial role of the development of green accounting, its future growth, and its wider impact on climate change. Additionally, the book examines how accurate tracking and reporting of carbon emissions are integral to developing effective environmental strategies and evolving environmental policies. Accompanied by real-world case studies and actionable recommendations, this book is a valuable resource for anyone navigating the intricate landscape of carbon accounting and reporting, offering a road map to informed strategic decision-making and sustainable business practices. It will be particularly beneficial for professionals in environmental management, policy formulation, and corporate sustainability, as it translates complex carbon accounting concepts into tangible, practical strategies.