The determinants of CSR disclosure of firms listed on the JSE: A focus on firms meeting the SRI index criteria

Abstract

This paper tests the relationship between the firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures, the extent of media exposure it enjoys and its size, profitability and leverage. The study is confined to firms who meet the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) criteria for inclusion in its Social Responsibility Index (SRI) and as such the focus is on those firms who are perceived to display best practice with regard to social responsibility. The objective of the study is to determine which factors act as drivers for CSR disclosure. The study uncovered statistically significant positive relationships between CSR disclosures and industry environmental impact as well as media exposure. Legitimacy theory was found to best explain the drivers of CSR disclosure among listed companies in South Africa