Antecedents and Consequences of Corporate Pro-Sustainable Practices

This project investigates the drivers and consequences of corporate engagement in pro-sustainable practices, focusing on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and disclosure practices.

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Project description

This project aims to explore the drivers and consequences of corporate engagement in pro-sustainable practices on a global scale. It utilises various theoretical perspectives, including institutional theory, legitimacy theory, and the resource-based view—and advanced statistical techniques. These techniques include the Powell (2022) panel quantile regression model, entropy balancing, propensity score matching, and the difference-in-differences technique. We argue that at the macro level, institutional mechanisms such as public governance are the most prominent drivers of pro-sustainable practices. Conversely, at the micro level, factors such as gender diversity, R&D, and eco-innovation are the most influential determinants.

Furthermore, corporate engagement in pro-sustainable practices - like environmental and social disclosures - is crucial for enhancing a firm's market value and facilitating more affordable access to debt capital.

This research project is led by Dr Ali Meftah Gerged from the University of Sheffield and co-authored by several internationally reputable scholars. These include Professor Ali Uyar from Excelia Business School, France; Professor Cemil Kuzey from Murray State University, USA; Professor Abdullah S. Karaman from the American University of the Middle East, Kuwait; Professor Chris Cowton and Professor Eshani Beddewela from the University of Huddersfield; Professor Collins Ntim from the University of Southampton; Dr Ernest Ezeani from Heriot-Watt University; Dr Nadia Zahoor from the Queen Mary University of London; Dr Lane Matthews from Queen's University Belfast; and Dr Bilal from Durham University, among others.

Key research outputs

Gerged, A. M., Kuzey, C., Uyar, A., & Karaman, A. S. (2024). Aggressive CSR strategy and CSR awarding: managerial opportunism versus social activism. Journal of Accounting Literature. doi:10.1108/JAL-10-2023-0177
Uyar, A., Gerged, A. M., Kuzey, C., & Karaman, A. S. (2024). Renewable energy use, slack financial resources, and board attribute: does energy efficiency policy matter? Business Strategy and the Environment. doi:10.1002/bse.3739
Gerged, A., M., Zahoor, N. and Cowton, C. (2023). Environmental Management Accounting, Environmental Innovation and Firm Performance: Evidence from SMEs of a Developing Economy'. Management Accounting Research, 100865.
Sarhan, A., and Gerged, A., M. (2023). Do corporate anti-bribery and corruption commitments enhance environmental management performance? The moderating role of corporate social responsibility accountability and executive compensation governance. Journal of Environmental Management, 341, 118063
Bilal, Gerged, A., M., Arslan, H., Abbas, A., Chen, S., & Manzoor, S. (2023). A bibliometric review of corporate environmental disclosure Literature. Journal of Accounting Literature. DOI: 10.1108/JAL-01-2022-0006.
Gerged, A., M., Uyar, A. and Karaman, A. (2023). Does investment stimulate or inhibit corporate transparency? The moderating role of the CSR committee, board monitoring, and CEO duality. Journal of Business Research. 159, 113762.
Gerged, A., M., M, Salem, R, Beddewela, E. (2023). How Does Transparency into International Sustainability Initiatives Influence Firm Value? Insights from Anglo-American Countries. Business Strategy and the Environment, 1-22.
Gerged, A., M., Tran, M. and Beddewela, E. (2023). 'Engendering Pro-Sustainable Performance Through a Multi-Layered Gender Diversity Criterion: Evidence from the Hospitality and Tourism Sector'. Journal of Travel Research, 62(5), 1047-1076.
Gerged, A., M., Chijoke-Mgbame, M., Konadu, R. & Cowton. C. (2023). Does the presence of an environmental committee strengthen the impact of board gender diversity on corporate environmental disclosure? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Business Strategy and the Environment, 32(4), 2434-2450.
Gerged, A., M., Albitar, K., & Al-Haddad, L. M. (2023). Corporate environmental disclosure and earnings management – the moderating role of corporate governance structures. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 28(3), 2789-2810.
Gerged, A., M., Beddewela, E., and Cowton, C. (2023). Does country-level governance quality affect corporate environmental disclosure? Evidence from the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 28(2), 1179-1200.
Gerged, A., M. & Elmontaser, T. (2021). Corporate Adoption of SDG Reporting in A Non-enabling Institutional Environment – Insights from the Libyan Oil Industries. Resources Policy, 74, 102240.
Gerged, A., M., Matthews, L., & Elheddad, M. (2021). Mandatory Disclosure, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Cost of Equity Capital: UK Evidence of a U-shaped relationship. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(2), 908-930.
Gerged, A., M. (2021). Factors affecting corporate environmental disclosure in emerging markets – the role of corporate governance structures. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(1), 609-629.
Gerged, A., M., Beddewela, E. S., & Cowton, C. J. (2021). Is corporate environmental disclosure associated with firm value? A multi-country study of Gulf Cooperation Council firms. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(1), 185-203.

Research activity

Gerged, A., M., Chijoke-Mgbame, M., Renata, K. (2022). "Women on Boards, environmental committee, and corporate environmental disclosure in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) Region". The British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Annual Conference, 11 April 2022 in Nottingham, England, the UK.
Sarhan, A. and Gerged A., M. (2023). Corruption Fighting and Environmental Performance: The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility Commitment. The 45th Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association (EAA), Espoo-Finland, from 24-26 May 2023.