Abstracts
Abstract
This study examines whether references to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the editorials of sustainable development reports have any predictive influence with respect to firms’ inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSWI). Signalling theory proposes hypotheses that can be tested by textual analysis of sustainable development report editorials published by French firms. The results suggest that these editorials may serve as leading indicators of CSR. The predictive power of editorials is strengthened when they are signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), published in a sustainability report and written in a clear and readable style.
Keywords:
- sustainable development report,
- editorial,
- CSR performance,
- early warning signals,
- textual analysis,
- signalling theory
Résumé
Les références à la responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE) dans les éditoriaux des rapports de développement durable permettent-elles d’anticiper l’inclusion des entreprises dans le Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSWI) ? En nous appuyant sur la théorie du signal et sur une analyse textuelle des éditoriaux des rapports de développement durable publiés par les entreprises françaises, nous montrons que les éditoriaux peuvent servir d’indicateurs avancés de la performance RSE. Le pouvoir prédictif des éditoriaux est renforcé lorsqu’ils sont signés par le directeur général, publiés dans un rapport de développement durable et rédigés dans un style clair et lisible.
Mots-clés :
- rapport de développement durable,
- éditorial,
- performance RSE,
- signaux d’alerte précoce,
- analyse textuelle,
- théorie du signal
Resumen
¿Las referencias a la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) en las memorias de desarrollo sostenible anticipan la inclusión de las empresas en el Índice Mundial de Sostenibilidad Dow Jones (DJSWI en inglés)? Basándonos en la Teoría de la Señal y en un análisis textual de las memorias de desarrollo sostenible publicadas por las empresas francesas, demostramos que las memorias pueden servir como indicadores principales de los resultados de RSC. El poder predictivo de las memorias aumenta cuando están firmados por el director general, se publican en un informe sobre sostenibilidad y están redactadas en un estilo claro y comprensible.
Palabras clave:
- memoria de desarrollo sostenible,
- informe,
- resultado de RSC,
- señales de alerta temprana,
- análisis preciso,
- teoría de la señal
Appendices
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