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The Power of Social and Environmental Disclosure

When: Friday, Aug 1, 9:00 – 11:00 AM

Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, room 109 A

We invite you to participate in our PDW on "The Power of Social and Environmental Disclosure."

Description: This PDW explores how corporate disclosure on social and environmental impacts can be used as a powerful strategic tool. Companies are facing increasing pressure from stakeholders to disclose information on their social and environmental impacts. However, given lax and often non-existent regulations on social and environmental disclosures, responses to that increasing pressure have been varied. In addition to exploring why certain companies are more likely to comply with demands for disclosure, this PDW will also discuss the quality of the information being disclosed and the impact that disclosure may have on both stakeholders and the focal firm. In disclosure, words have the power to inform and to misinform. Some companies may use disclosure to call attention to their positive impacts, while distracting away from their negative impacts to create an overly positive perception of the company. This practice is commonly known in the environmental domain as greenwash. Information disclosed on the company's social and environmental impacts also has the potential to elicit powerful reactions from stakeholders that can impact firm value and can prompt companies to make improvements to their social and environmental performance. The panelists will discuss how their existing research relates to these issues, challenges unique to research on these topics, and areas where future work is needed.

Organizer: Susan Kayser (Indiana U)

Panelist: Mark Cohen (Vanderbilt)

Panelist: Glen Dowell (Cornell)

Panelist: Eun-Hee Kim (George Washington U)

We hope to see you there!

Susan Kayser