Publications Database

Welcome to the new Schulich Peer-Reviewed Publication Database!

The database is currently in beta-testing and will be updated with more features as time goes on. In the meantime, stakeholders are free to explore our faculty’s numerous works. The left-hand panel affords the ability to search by the following:

  • Faculty Member’s Name;
  • Area of Expertise;
  • Whether the Publication is Open-Access (free for public download);
  • Journal Name; and
  • Date Range.

At present, the database covers publications from 2012 to 2020, but will extend further back in the future. In addition to listing publications, the database includes two types of impact metrics: Altmetrics and Plum. The database will be updated annually with most recent publications from our faculty.

If you have any questions or input, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Search Results

Mirza, M., Dordi, T., Alguindigue, P., Johnson, R., & Weber, O. (2023). "Sustainability in Private Capital Investing: A Systematic Literature Review", Journal of Management and Sustainability, 13(1), 119-138.

Open Access Download

Abstract The private capital asset class has grown to over $10 trillion in assets under management and has significant potential to contribute to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. However, there is a dearth of academic research about ESG with regards to private capital investing. This literature review adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining a quantitative (bibliometric) analysis with a qualitative review of the articles. It was found that less than 1% of the literature, written in English, between 1960−2020 on private equity and venture capital addresses topics related to sustainability. It was also observed that the 46 papers which address sustainability topics can be categorized into 13 themes, including certifications and standards, impact investing, and corporate social responsibility. Investment in private securities grew at twice the rate as public securities during the end of this time-period and interest in sustainability integration in private capital investing is growing. Incentives for private equity and venture firms to engage with sustainable investments are being driven by institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies. The focus of sustainability research has typically been on public markets, hindering the potential of private capital investment to influence sustainable policy and practices. The objective of this paper is to provide evidence of the dearth of academic literature on the topic of private capital markets and sustainable investment, while identifying current themes in the existing literature so that future work may address gaps in research.

Dobija, D., Cho, C.H., She, C., Zarzycka, E., Krasodomska, J. and Jemielniak, D. (2023). "Involuntary Disclosures and Stakeholder-Initiated Communication on Social Media", Organization and Environment, 36(1), 69-97.

Open Access Download

Abstract This study explores firm responses to stakeholder-initiated involuntary disclosures, which are disclosures made by stakeholders about an organization but are against the will of managers, and subsequent stakeholder reactions. We analyzed 134,977 firm Twitter replies from seven companies to identify their responses to involuntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures and find that companies demonstrate different attitudes toward engagement in the exchange about involuntary disclosures. Whereas some companies communicate with stakeholders, others are almost silent. When a company engages in communication with its stakeholders, the communication is mostly one-way, and mortification or dissent is the likely response strategy. We also find that while stakeholders generally do not continue to engage with corporate communications, they are likely to respond when companies deny the information revealed by involuntary disclosure. Our results suggest that involuntary disclosures on social media are not able to improve communication between stakeholders and companies.

Chung, J. and Cho, C.H. (2018). "Current Trends within Social and Environmental Accounting Research: A Literature Review", Accounting Perspectives, 17(2), 207-239.

View Paper

Abstract Given the recent rise in the evolution and maturity of social and environmental accounting (SEA) research and scholarship, we provide a literature review of the current trends within this area in a concise and harmonized manner for a wider audience in academia and practice. More specifically, we visit the current state of scholarly work, which can be useful in facilitating future research questions and further development of SEA research associated with relations between corporate social performance (CSP), corporate social disclosure (CSD), and corporate financial performance (CFP). Our goal is to offer insights to the current state of SEA research that is informative to both novice and expert SEA scholars, with the hope to promote and stimulate further advancement of research in this particular area. Drawing knowledge from relevant disciplines such as accounting, management, finance, and economics, this article visits the current trends within SEA research in terms of definition, research topics, theoretical viewpoints, methodological approaches, as well as suggestions for future research.

Weber, O. (2016). "Equator Principles Reporting: Factors Influencing the Quality of Reports", International Journal of Corporate Strategy and Social Responsibility, 1(2), 141-160.

View Paper

Abstract This study analyses the reporting of Equator Principles Financial Institutions (EPFI). The Equator Principles are a voluntary code of conduct, providing guidelines for assessing, managing, and reporting environmental and social impacts in project finance. The objective of the study is: 1) to understand, whether EPFIs follow the Equator Principles reporting guidelines; 2) to assess the quality of the mandatory reports of the EPFIs; 3) to analyse causes for differences in reporting. Because the Equator Principles are a voluntary code of conduct, or a so-called soft law, the research has been based on institutional theory. Our results suggest that though EPFIs follow the reporting guidelines, only about 5% disclose all the information required by the guidelines and consequently achieve the highest score with respect to their reporting quality. Furthermore, differences in reporting quality are mainly caused by the size of the EPFIs. The larger the EPFI with respect to its total assets the higher is the reporting quality. We conclude that further mechanisms, such as standardisation and assurance, are needed to guarantee transparent reporting of environmental and social project risks.

Weber, O., Hoque, A., & Islam, M. A. (2015). "Incorporating Environmental Criteria into Credit Risk Management in Bangladeshi Banks", Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment, pg1-15.

View Paper

Abstract Does the integration of environmental, social and sustainability criteria in commercial credit risk assessment processes create a benefit for lenders and does it improve the prognostic validity of the credit risk prediction? Some analyses have reported that a correlation exists between commercial borrowers’ sustainability performance and credit risks. We analyzed the role that criteria pertaining to sustainability and environmental orientation play in the commercial credit risk management process in Bangladeshi banks. Our results suggest that sustainability criteria improve the prognostic validity of the credit rating process. We conclude that the sustainability a firm demonstrates influences its creditworthiness as part of its financial performance. Consequently, lenders will benefit from implementing credit risk assessment models that integrate sustainability risks. By taking sustainability issues into account, banks will be able to avoid credit defaults on the one hand and to channel commercial loans to sustainability leaders on the other hand.

Cecil, L., LaGore, W., Mahoney, L. and Thorne, L. (2013). "A Research Note on Standalone Corporate Social Responsibility Reports: Signaling or Greenwashing", Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 24, 350-359.

View Paper

Abstract Over the past two decades, more and more U.S. firms are voluntarily issuing costly standalone Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reports. Nevertheless, firms’ motivations for issuing standalone CSR Reports are not clear. In this paper, we consider two different explanations: signaling and greenwashing. The first explanation, signaling, proposes that firms use standalone CSR Reports as a signal of their superior commitment to CSR, which suggests firms with stronger social and environmental records will be more likely to issue standalone CSR Reports as compared to those without. The second explanation, greenwashing, proposes that firms use standalone CSR Reports to pose as “good” corporate citizens even when they do not have stronger social and environmental records. To provide insight into these explanations we compare the CSR performance scores of firms that issue CSR reports to those firms that do not. We control for firm size, leverage, profitability and industry. We find that firms that voluntarily issue standalone CSR Reports generally have higher CSR performance scores, which suggests that firms are using voluntary CSR Reports to publicize stronger social and environmental records to stakeholders.

Cho, C.H. and Patten, D.M. (2013). "Green Accounting: Reflections from a CSR and Environmental Disclosure Perspective", Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 24(6), 443-447.

View Paper

Abstract In this commentary, we reflect on Thornton's (2013) extension to his original CA Magazine article on environmental accounting (Thornton, 1993) as well as the original contribution. Given our background in social and environmental disclosure research, we question Thornton's narrow focus on environmental accounting as it relates to the debits and credits of financial reporting, and we attempt to illustrate the problems that voluntary environmental disclosure creates with respect to reduced incentives for companies to improve environmental performance. We conclude by identifying our concerns with the future of environmental accounting given the recent ‘rediscovery’ of the topic by mainstream accounting researchers.