Trends and determinants of corporate non-financial disclosure in Greece

An increasing number of business organizations around the world engage in the accounting for and reporting on non-financial aspects of performance, mainly within the domains of social and environmental responsibility. Using a composite disclosure index this study investigates the status of the non-financial disclosure practices of the top 100 companies operating in Greece. A number of determinants which potentially drive Greek firms to publicly disclose such information are examined, an investigation of the reporting practices of a subgroup of firms which is on the spotlight regarding their environmental performance is performed, while overlapping perspectives for the Greek case are outlined. The analysis suggests that only a small group of leading Greek firms appears to endorse a meaningful business-and-society dialogue as an instrument for stakeholder communication and the discharging of organizational accountability. Most other corporations still tend to treat such practices superficially and in an imprecise manner.