Scrutiny, norms, and selective disclosure
Subtitle: a global study of greenwashing
By: Christopher Marquis, Michael W. Toffel
Contributors: Toffel, Michael W., author; Harvard Business School
Edition: Revised edition
Series: Working paper / Harvard Business School -- 11-115; Working paper (Harvard Business School) -- 11-115.
Publisher: Harvard Business School
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 41
Work titles: When do firms greenwash?
Description: Under increased pressure to report environmental impacts, some firms selectively disclose relatively benign impacts, creating an impression of transparency while masking their true performance. We identify key company- and country-level factors that, by intensifying scrutiny on firms and diffusing global norms to their headquarters countries, limit firms' use of selective disclosure. We test our hypotheses using a novel panel dataset of 4,750 public companies across many industries and headquartered in 45 countries during 2004-2007. Results show that firms that are more environmentally damaging, particularly those in countries where they are more exposed to scrutiny and global norms, are less likely to engage in selective disclosure. We discuss contributions to the literature that spans institutional theory and strategic management and to the literature on information disclosure.
Notes: "May 2011. (Revised April 2014.)"--Publisher's Web site.

Revision of When do firms greenwash?

Includes bibliographical references (pages 35-38).