Abstract

Reza Malek-Yonan1, Mahmoud Bakhtiar2* and Milad Rafsanjani3

There is an increasing trend for businesses to produce information on social, environmental and sustainable aspects of their operations. Although guidelines exist for the production of such reporting, and legal requirements can be found in some countries, their use is often optional and the disclosure of non-financial information is mandatory only in limited cases. Companies may find it in their interest to disclose voluntarily certain non-financial information, particularly if it is designed as part of a package to improve their credibility and acceptance in key markets, or if it enables them to undertake business more successfully. In sectors dominated by large multinational enterprises, disclosure of such information may be seen as an important business driver. This paper is an analytical study that examines whether the use of non-financial information is important in company reporting.