Corporate Anti-corruption Disclosure: An Examination of the Coercive Pressure of Directive 2014/95/EU

Purpose: This study examined anti-corruption reporting practices across companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, by looking at both the extent of anti-corruption disclosure and the coercive determinants of that extent, in particular the potential pressure from the regulator that requires mandatory anti-corruption disclosure under the Directive 2014/95/EU (Directive). Design/methodology/approach: The sample comprised 71 selected listed companies over 6 years. Content analysis was used to measure the extent of anti-corruption disclosure. The econometric model was estimated using panel fixed effects. Findings: The Directive enforcement increased significantly the extent of anti-corruption disclosure Surprisingly inclusion in the Respect Index, government ownership and foreign ownership are not significant determinants of anti-corruption reporting. Originality: Our study contributes to the understanding of the impact of Directive and other coercive variables on anti-corruption disclosure, a specific subset of sustainability reporting. In particular, it presents the contribution of accounting to the struggle against corruption.