Disclosure Of Socio-Environmental Information And Isomorphism: A Study Of Brazilian Mining Companies

This study investigated the possible presence of an isomorphic process among the annual and sustainability reports of the companies that exploit the mining activity, verifying to which extent the volume of information disclosure of this nature are similar. To this end, four groups of indicators were established in line with the procedures established by the Brazilian Accounting Standard T-15 and other recommendations of the Institutes Ethos and Ibase, besides the guidelines established by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for the elaborations of the annual and sustainability reports. 45 annual and sustainability reports from 2005 to 2009 were analyzed. The statistical technique used to support the processing of data was the analysis of variance, seeking to compare the averages for each item that formed the groups of indicators. Results showed an increase in the volume of socio-environmental information during the period studied, which reinforces the assumption of the Theory of Legitimacy. Also, provides evidence that shows the presence of isomorphism regarding internal and external social indicators in the annual and sustainability reports. It was not possible to verify an isomorphic process between the environmental indicators and compliance to GRI guidelines in these reports. These results indicate the need for further discussion on the regulation of socio-environmental information disclosure seeking a standardization that enables safer analysis to the decision-making process of investors and other stakeholders. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]