刊名:Journal of Accounting and Economics
发表时间:2026.04
论文介绍:
企业财务披露是否会影响企业真实经营活动,是金融与会计研究中的重要问题。既有文献主要关注公司披露对资本投资和信息环境的影响,而较少探讨财务披露是否能够影响企业可持续发展实践。本文以美国强制性经营分部报告制度改革(SFAS 131)作为外生披露冲击,研究企业披露此前隐藏的污染行业经营分部后,其工厂层面的有毒污染排放是否发生变化。研究认为,污染分部的财务信息披露不仅揭示了该分部在企业经营和盈利中的重要性,也使其环境影响更易受到投资者、分析师、监管机构和公众关注,从而强化外部监督并推动企业改善环境表现。
研究发现,强制披露此前隐藏的污染分部显著降低了企业工厂的污染排放。进一步分析表明,当新披露分部属于污染程度更高的行业时,减排效应更强。而当企业新披露的是非污染分部时,并未观察到显著的污染变化。机制检验显示,企业在披露污染分部后,主要通过加强污染防治实践、减少有毒废弃物产生以及增加绿色创新来实现排放下降和环境表现改善。总体而言,本文揭示了强制性财务披露在传统财务信息传递功能之外的重要治理作用。更高质量的分部披露不仅能够改善资本市场信息环境,也能够影响企业环境行为,推动企业将污染外部性内部化。该研究拓展了公司披露真实效应、企业环境治理与可持续金融领域的相关文献,并为完善可持续信息披露制度、推动企业绿色转型和高质量发展提供了重要经验证据与政策启示。
论文摘要:
We examine whether financial disclosures affect firm sustainability practices. Using mandatory segment reporting in the United States as the setting, we find that disclosing financial information about previously hidden segments in polluting industries reduces toxic emissions from firm plants. This effect is consistent with the notion that segment disclosures enhance monitoring of firm pollution by highlighting the financial materiality of polluting segments and drawing stakeholders’ attention to their environmental impact. The effect is stronger when the newly disclosed segments are more polluting. Disclosing firms achieve this reduction by implementing better pollution prevention practices, reducing waste generation, and increasing green innovation. Overall, our study highlights the role of mandatory financial disclosures in shaping corporate practices beyond the scope of the disclosed information.
DOI:10.1016/j.jacceco.2026.101901