Suchergebnisse

In 2014, a European Union (EU) Directive required certain large undertakings and groups to disclose non-financial information from 2017 onwards. In 2017, the EU guidelines on non-financial reporting established that reporting climate-related information is part of the non-financial information. Later, in 2019, the guidelines were reinforced to include a supplement that envisages improving climate-related information reporting. Banks can contribute to reducing climate-related risks by supporting investments in economic activities that aim to mitigate the risk of climate change. Capital needs should be reoriented towards sustainable investment. Banks shall manage financial risks arising from climate change ; therefore, they must integrate climate change into their policies and procedures, assessing the potential impact of projects and financing on climate change. This study aimed to evaluate how banks in Portugal have been reporting climate-related information and whether the level of information has increased since 2017. Using content analysis, findings indicated that banks are already including climate-related information ; however, they are still far from approaching what the new guidelines require. Results suggested that there is still a long way to go in this area concerning banks and regulators.

Using data from 2003 to 2020, this study uses a scientometric approach to investigate the nexus between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and corporate tax aggressiveness research. The objective is to identify under-explored regions, variables, citation patterns, theories, and unexplored topics in the body of knowledge to establish trends in publications on issues about corporate social responsibility and corporate tax aggressiveness. In addition, the study also considers publication journal areas of focus. Research linking CSR and tax avoidance using VOSviewer and triangulating with CiteSpace, by way of approach, is not found in the literature. The findings suggest that CSR and corporate tax aggressiveness researchers do not use far-reaching relevant theories and applicable findings from studies beyond their clusters. Another finding is that African countries remain under-explored due to the absence of institutional representation and an adequate number of investigators regarding CSR and corporate tax aggressiveness research. Finally, the study reveals a number of research topics to be explored. Governments, particularly in developing economies, should create policies that define taxes as part of an entity's CSR narrative to enhance transparency and legitimacy. In addition, the study is of immense significance to master and PhD students since it provides an agenda for future research. ; This paper was financed by National Funds of the FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project ...

Nos últimos anos, temos verificado uma alteração na estrutura de custos das empresas. Os gastos gerais de fabrico aumentam em detrimento da mão-de-obra directa. Contudo, a componente com maior peso é a dos materiais directos. O CBA (custeio baseado nas actividades) é um método de custeio que se baseia nas actividades para efectua; a distribuição dos custos indirectos pelos produtos. É um método que está dependente da estrutura de custos, ou seja, segundo a Regra de "Willie Sutton" e o estudo de Vokurka e Lummus (2001), uma empresa com altos gastos gerais é propensa à aplicação do CBA. Ao analisarmos a estrutura de custos das diversas actividades económicas portuguesas, verificámos que existem actividades aptas à implementação do CBA no sector dos serviços bem como na indústria e no comércio. Contudo, apesar desta potencialidade, muitas empresas não optam pelo CBA. Deste modo, concluímos que a estrutura de custos não é um factor premente à implementação do CBA, existindo outros factores a ter em consideração.

Using a new institutional economics perspective, this article analyses the economic and political context that led to accounting standardisation in Portugal from 1977 onwards and to the recent adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The process of accounting standardisation was related to the tax reform of 1963. Additionally, evidence was found that there were also political pressures related to the need to improve the national systems of accounts. The lack of development of the accounting profession and the emphasis on legality substantiated the need for enforcement in the law in 1977 of a standardised accounting plan that was similar to other plans in Europe, namely the French Plan. In a legalist country like Portugal, the modelling of national standards on the international ones and the definitive adoption of adapted IFRS in 2010 by unlisted companies had to be complemented by the enactment in law of the accounting regulations. ; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia ...

PurposeThis paper investigates the effect of the global financial crisis (GFC) on the level of corporate social responsibility disclosures (CSRD) in the annual report and/or CSR report of 36 major listed Portuguese companies in each of the years 2005, 2008 and 2011.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is framed principally by stakeholder theory. Data were explored using thematic content analysis and an index of disclosure calculated by year, industry type (consumer proximity versus environment sensitivity) and category of information.FindingsBefore the GFC, Portuguese listed companies increased their CSRD practices significantly. During the crisis, there was a slight decrease in CSRD. However, this was not as pronounced, as it would otherwise have been because it was counteracted by increased disclosures of company interactions with society, particularly in matters of corruption prevention and community engagement. CSRD was higher for companies with high consumer proximity but did not appear to be influenced by companies' level of environmental sensitivity.Originality/valueThe results reveal a strong concern by companies for stakeholder management (particularly in respect of community relations) in a period of financial crisis. This study highlights the effect of a company's proximity to consumers on levels of CSRD.

Purpose — We assess the risk-related disclosure practices in annual reports for 2005 of Portuguese companies in the non-finance sector. ; Design/methodology/approach — We conduct a content analysis of a sample of 81 companies (42 listed and 39 unlisted). In considering corporate governance effects, the sample is reduced to the 42 listed companies that are required to disclose a corporate governance report. ; Findings —Implementation of IAS/IFRS and the European Union's Modernisation Directive in 2005 did not affect the quantity and quality of risk-related disclosures positively. Disclosures are generic, qualitative, and backward-looking. Public visibility (as assessed by size and environmental sensitivity) is a crucial influence in explaining risk-related disclosures: companies appear to manage their reputation through disclosure of risk-related information. Agency costs associated with leverage are important influences also. In listed companies, the presence of independent directors improves the level of risk-related disclosures. ; Research limitations —Content analysis does not allow readily for in-depth qualitative inquiry. The coding instrument is subject to coder bias. Information about risk can be provided in sources other than annual reports. The study is confined to one year/one country and pre-dates the global financial crisis (2008) and the implementation of IFRS 7 (2007). ; Originality/value — The results point to the desirability of enhancing accountability by mandating further disclosure of substantive and relevant risk-related information in company annual reports. The risk-related disclosures observed are shown to be explained by a confluence of agency theory, legitimacy theory and resources-based perspectives.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse voluntary disclosures of intellectual capital (IC) items in the sustainability reports of Portuguese companies. The paper aims to highlight the level, pattern and determinants of IC disclosures in those sustainability reports; and the potential for sustainability reports to be a medium for IC disclosures.Design/methodology/approachAn index of voluntary disclosure of intangibles is constructed and deployed to analyse IC disclosures in the sustainability reports for 2006 of Portuguese firms, published on the web site of the Portugal's Business Council for Sustainability Development. Four hypotheses are tested about associations between that disclosure index and firm‐specific variables.FindingsDisclosure of information about IC is more likely in sustainability reports of firms that have a higher level of application of the Global Reporting Initiative framework, and are listed companies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is cross‐sectional. Subjective judgment is involved in constructing the disclosure index.Practical implicationsThe observed level and pattern of disclosure of IC information suggests that the preparation of a sustainability report is an opportune starting point for the development of IC reporting.Originality/valueThe study highlights the determinants of IC disclosures in sustainability reports; the high incidence of such disclosures; and points to the enhancement of legitimacy and reputation as potential incentives for firms to engage in such practice.

This paper introduces some significant developments in the history of the Portuguese accounting profession. It does so with a view to providing a facilitative foundation of knowledge upon which further analysis and critique can be undertaken. Five developmental periods since 1755 are identified: (i) Corporatist Absolute Monarchy (1755–1820) (ii) Liberal Monarchy (1820–1890) (iii) Waning Liberalism and Rising Corporatism (1891–1926) (iv) Corporatist Dictatorship (1926–1974) and (v) Emerging Liberal Democracy and Neocorporatism (1974 until the present). The accounting profession's chequered history is analysed through episodes of regulation and deregulation. These episodes are associated with Portugal's pervading social, economic and political context and are dichotomised broadly as either "corporatist" or "liberal". Relationships between episodes of regulation and periods of "corporatism" are highlighted, together with associations between episodes of de-regulation and periods of "liberalism". A better understanding emerges of factors instrumental in the emergence of a well respected and rapidly growing accounting profession in Portugal.

Documentos de Trabalho = Working Papers / NEGE ; 9/2002 ; This paper introduces some significant historical milestones in the regulatory development of the Portuguese accounting profession. It does so with a view to providing a facilitative foundational bedrock of knowledge upon which further analysis and critique can be undertaken. Five developmental periods since 1755 are identified: (i) Corporatist Absolute Monarchy (1755 - 1820) (ii) Liberal Monarchy (1820 - 1890) (iii) Waning Liberalism and Rising Corporatism (1891 - 1926) (iv) Corporatist Dictatorship (1926 - 1974) and (v) Emerging Liberal Democracy and Neo-corporatism (1974 until the present). The accounting profession's chequered history is analysed through episodes of regulation and de-regulation. These episodes are associated with the Portugal's ambient social, economic and political mood through a broad dichotomisation as either "corporatist" or "liberal". Associations between episodes of regulation and periods of "corporatism", and associations between episodes of de-regulation and periods of "liberalism", are highlighted. A better understanding emerges of factors instrumental in the recent emergence of a well respected and rapidly growing accounting profession in Portugal. ; Fundação para a Ciência e ...

This study combines Dillard et al.'s [(2004). The making and remaking of organization context: Duality and the institutionalization process. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 17(4), 506–542] institutional change model with institutional entrepreneurship theory. The aim is to enhance understanding of institutional change processeswhen a country adopts international accounting standards. For empirical support, we focus on the changes in social structures and accounting practices that arose in 2010when Portugal replaced its national accounting system for unlisted companies, with a new system of accounting based on International Financial Reporting Standards. We reveal how an evolving socio-economic and political context, and the embedding of central actors in multiple fields, facilitated entrepreneurial action by actors who took political opportunity, mobilised important allies, and accommodated the interests of major protagonists. We draw attention to the possibility of an earlier inversion of the cascading institutionalisation process than is envisaged by Dillard et al. (2004). At the organisational field level, we highlight how national professional accounting associations and business associations can shape criteria established at the political and economic level, thereby counteracting the institutionalisation process. At the organisational level, we focus on the accounting standard for small and medium-sized entities. We provide insights to why some accountants maintained structures of meaning associated with the previous accounting system.

Accounting education institutions and practices facilitated the distributive, translational and representational roles of accounting in the unique context of the centre of an Empire [the Portuguese] after it moved in 1808 from a metropolis [Lisbon] to a periphery [Rio de Janeiro]. We explore for the first time in the accounting literature, the unique context of Empire in which a former periphery became a centre. This required 'imagining' accounting (and associated commercial) technologies in the former centre and re-instituting them in the periphery (the new centre). An important manifestation of this imagining was the development of formal instruction in accounting in Brazil at the Rio de Janeiro School of Commerce, established in 1810. We contribute to knowledge in three major ways. First, we develop understanding of the 'Portuguese imagination' by showing how this was evidenced and applied outside the realm of 'romantic' literature, specifically here in propagating accounting and accounting-related technologies. Second, we show the role of accounting education in facilitating the introduction and operation of accounting technologies of government in the context of "re-imagining" the Empire as it once was. Third, we further develop nascent understandings of the genesis of accounting in Brazil.

This study combines Dillard et al.'s [(2004). The making and remaking of organization context: Duality and the institutionalization process. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 17(4), 506–542] institutional change model with institutional entrepreneurship theory. The aim is to enhance understanding of institutional change processes when a country adopts international accounting standards. For empirical support, we focus on the changes in social structures and accounting practices that arose in 2010 when Portugal replaced its national accounting system for unlisted companies, with a new system of accounting based on International Financial Reporting Standards. We reveal how an evolving socio-economic and political context, and the embedding of central actors in multiple fields, facilitated entrepreneurial action by actors who took political opportunity, mobilised important allies, and accommodated the interests of major protagonists. We draw attention to the possibility of an earlier inversion of the cascading institutionalisation process than is envisaged by Dillard et al. (2004). At the organisational field level, we highlight how national professional accounting associations and business associations can shape criteria established at the political and economic level, thereby counteracting the institutionalisation process. At the organisational level, we focus on the accounting standard for small and medium-sized entities. We provide insights to why some accountants maintained structures of meaning associated with the previous accounting system.

This study of the interrelations of accounting and the State portrays accounting as a technology of government to effectively enact "practical action" (Snook, 2000: 186) at a distance in the Portuguese Empire. The study examines the development, application and enforcement of accounting rules under Portuguese imperialism in the "Pombaline Era" during the period 1761 to 1777. These rules, comprising the "1761 Law" and the later applicable accounting "Instructions," were issued by the Royal Treasury, established in 1761, for application throughout the Portuguese Empire. Using the combination of Foucault's concept of governmentality and Snook's theory of "practical drift", the study elucidates how the implementation and evaluation of accounting control systems permitted the Portuguese Government to exercise control at a distance, thereby mobilizing individuals to pursue its goals for the Empire. The measures taken to enforce conformity with the accounting rules are shown to have been targeted at deterring the phenomenon of practical drift and, therefore, were concerned with avoiding malfunctioning and potential chaos in colonial administration. ; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia ...