Corporate Anti‐Corruption Disclosure and Corporate Sustainability Performance in the United Kingdom: Does Sustainability Governance Matter?

Abstract

This research investigates the potential effects of companies' commitments to disclose their anti‐corruption efforts on their sustainability performance. Additionally, we aim to analyze whether the existence of a sustainability committee influences this relationship. To achieve these objectives, we gathered data from 5344 firm‐year observations of companies listed on the FTSE 350 index from 2008 to 2023. Our findings provide strong empirical support for a positive relationship between companies' anti‐corruption disclosures and their sustainability performance. Furthermore, our evidence suggests that the presence of a sustainability committee acts as a viable complement to anti‐corruption disclosures, driving improved sustainability performance. Our study highlights practical implications for organizations, regulators, and policymakers, and it opens avenues for future research.