Course description
This course presents some (hopefully) interesting aspects of empirical research in financial accounting. In particular, we will focus on the research that dealt with various topics related to SDGs.
The reason why we might be interested in empirical studies on SDGs is that some critiques against SDGs argue its lack of positive evidence. Researchers are busy in evaluating whether SDGs provide benefit to the society. Since the research in this area is still in its infancy, we will find different approaches to the SDGs-related research topics, which are the reflection of the efforts made by the authors. You may agree or disagree with the authors’ conclusions.
This course will consist of lectures by the instructor and presentations by the students. For each week, I will provide a lecture on the topic for the week. The following class will be reserved for students’ presentation and group discussion on the assigned article(s).
Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions and submit a final research proposal based on one or more of the articles covered in class.
We plan to make a field visit at Ca’ Foscari’s SDGs activities.  (https://www.cafoscariforsdgs.com/)

Learning Objectives
1. Develop your understanding of the current state of SDGs,
2. Learn how to appreciate and evaluate academic articles so that you can access cutting-edge knowledge, and
3. Develop your skill to design a research project

Prerequisite
Students are expected to possess understanding of basic statistics. Prior exposure to introductory courses of microeconomics, finance, and financial accounting will be helpful.

Evaluation method
50% individual oral presentation during the final exam week
20% participation to class discussions
30% In-class presentation and submitted questions

Class Participation
The nature of a small size class is such that regular attendance is an absolute minimum requirement for the effective acquisition of knowledge. Class participation, however, involves much more than just showing up. Your performance in class will be graded along several dimensions: cognitive skills (preparation, logic, knowledge, and creativity); expressive elements (clarity, fluency, and conciseness); effective ingredients (enthusiasm and interest) as well as your contribution to the process of learning (constructive criticism and relevance).
I expect all participants to treat other members of the class with respect. Students should not engage in disruptive behavior that interferes with other students’ learning opportunities.

Discussion Sessions
Classes #10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, and 23 are discussion sessions. One student (or a group of students, depending on the enrollment) will be responsible for preparing a presentation of the paper. Non-presenting students are required to submit at least three questions on the paper, which will be discussed in class.
Note: the number of students’ presentations could be adjusted based on the enrollment size.

Final presentation
Each student will prepare a fifteen to twenty minutes presentation on a single journal article that deals with one of the topics covered in class. The paper should not be the paper listed in the syllabus. The papers to be presented will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Once you decide which paper to present, report to the instructor and obtain approval.

Syllabus and reading assignment

Class #1 Orientation

No required reading

Class #2 What the SDGs mean

United Nations (2015), Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
United Nations Resolution 70/ 1, 25 September 2015, New York.
Available at:
https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/publications/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf

Class #3 Current state of accounting research on SDGs I

Bebbington, J., & Unerman, J. (2018). Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: an enabling role for accounting research. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 31(1), 2-24.
DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-05-2017-2929

Class #4 Current state of accounting research on SDGs II

Bebbington, J., & Unerman, J. (2020). Advancing research into accounting and the UN sustainable development goals. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 33(7), 1657-1670.
DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-05-2020-4556

Class #5 Current state of accounting research on SDGs III

Hsiao, P. C. K., de Villiers, C., Horner, C., & Oosthuizen, H. (2022). A review and synthesis of contemporary sustainability accounting research and the development of a research agenda. Accounting & Finance, 62(4), 4453-4483.
DOI: 10.1111/acfi.12936

Class #6 Research on SDGs: General issues I

Botchway, G. O., & Bradley, O. J. (2023). The diffusion of the sustainable development goals (SDGs): an examination of preparer perceptions. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 14(2), 289-312.
DOI: 10.1108/SAMPJ-01-2022-0012

Class #7 Research on SDGs: General issues II

Gudev, I. (2020). Creative Accounting–Definition, Types, Purposes and Impact on United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Economic Alternatives, 2, 328-341.
DOI: 10.37075/EA.2020.2.09

Class #8 Research on SDGs: General issues III

De Luca, F., Cardoni, A., Phan, H. T. P., & Kiseleva, E. (2020). Does structural capital affect SDGs risk-related disclosure quality? An empirical investigation of Italian large listed companies. Sustainability, 12(5), 1776.
DOI: 10.3390/su12051776

Class #9 Research on SDGs Goal 5 Gender equality I

Nguyen, T. H. H., Ntim, C. G., & Malagila, J. K. (2020). Women on corporate boards and corporate financial and non-financial performance: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. International review of financial analysis, 71, 101554.
DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2020.101554

Class #10 Research on SDGs Goal 5 Gender equality II

Discussion Material
Fernandez‐Feijoo, B., Romero, S., & Ruiz‐Blanco, S. (2014). Women on boards: do they affect sustainability reporting? Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 21(6), 351-364.
DOI: 10.1002/csr.1329

Class #11 Research on SDGs Goal 5 Gender equality III

Discussion Material
Buallay, A., Hamdan, R., Barone, E., & Hamdan, A. (2022). Increasing female participation on boards: Effects on sustainability reporting. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 27(1), 111-124.
DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.2141

Class #12 Review

Class #13 Research on SDGs Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production I

Mensah, K., Wieck, C., & Rudloff, B. (2023). Sustainable food consumption and Sustainable Development Goal 12: Conceptual challenges for monitoring and implementation. Sustainable Development. (forthcoming)
DOI: 10.1002/sd.2718

Class #14 Research on SDGs Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production II

Discussion Material
Vallet‐Bellmunt, T., Fuertes‐Fuertes, I., & Flor, M. L. (2023). Reporting Sustainable Development Goal 12 in the Spanish food retail industry. An analysis based on Global Reporting Initiative performance indicators. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 30(2), 695-707.
DOI: 10.1002/csr.2382

Class #15 Research on SDGs Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production III

Discussion Material
Gunawan, J., Permatasari, P., & Tilt, C. (2020). Sustainable development goal disclosures: Do they support responsible consumption and production? Journal of Cleaner Production, 246, 118989.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118989

Class #16 Research on SDGs Goal 13 Climate action I

Gulluscio, C., Puntillo, P., Luciani, V., & Huisingh, D. (2020). Climate change accounting and reporting: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 12(13), 5455.
DOI: 10.3390/su12135455

Class #17 Research on SDGs Goal 13 Climate action II

Discussion Material
Charnock, R., & Hoskin, K. (2020). SDG 13 and the entwining of climate and sustainability metagovernance: an archaeological–genealogical analysis of goals-based climate governance. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 33(7), 1731-1759.
DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-12-2018-3790

Class #18 Research on SDGs Goal 13 Climate action III

Discussion Material
O'Dwyer, B., & Unerman, J. (2020). Shifting the focus of sustainability accounting from impacts to risks and dependencies: Researching the transformative potential of TCFD reporting. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 33(5), 1113-1141.
DOI: 10.1108/AAAJ-02-2020-4445

Class #19 Research on SDGs and capital market I

Brooks, C., & Oikonomou, I. (2018). The effects of environmental, social and governance disclosures and performance on firm value: A review of the literature in accounting and finance. The British Accounting Review, 50(1), 1-15.
DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2017.11.005

Class #20 Research on SDGs and capital market II

Discussion Material
Li, Y., Gong, M., Zhang, X. Y., & Koh, L. (2018). The impact of environmental, social, and governance disclosure on firm value: The role of CEO power. The British Accounting Review, 50(1), 60-75.
DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2017.09.007

Class #21 Research on SDGs and capital market III

Discussion Material
Sarhan, A. A., Ntim, C. G., & Al‐Najjar, B. (2019). Board diversity, corporate governance, corporate performance, and executive pay. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 24(2), 761-786.
DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.1690

Class #22 Research on SDGs and capital market IV

Discussion Material
Wong, J. B., & Zhang, Q. (2022). Stock market reactions to adverse ESG disclosure via media channels. The British Accounting Review, 54(1), 101045.
DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2021.101045

Class #23 Research on SDGs and capital market V

Discussion Material
Di Vaio, A., & Varriale, L. (2020). SDGs and airport sustainable performance: Evidence from Italy on organisational, accounting and reporting practices through financial and non-financial disclosure. Journal of Cleaner Production, 249, 119431.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119431

Class #24 Wrap-up

Last updated: January 22, 2024