Search Results (101)

The increasing pressure for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) accountability in publicly funded institutions has raised concerns about the authenticity and efficiency of ESG implementation. This study investigates the relationship between public ESG funding, disclosure quality, and organizational efficiency across Greek public and financial entities. Using a mixed-methods approach—data envelopment analysis (DEA), qualitative ESG content scoring, and bibliometric mapping—we reveal that symbolic compliance remains prevalent, often decoupled from actual sustainability outcomes. Our DEA findings show that technical efficiency is strongly associated with reporting clarity, the use of verifiable metrics, and governance integration, rather than the mere volume of funding. The qualitative analysis further confirms that many disclosures reflect reputational signaling rather than impact-oriented transparency. Bibliometric results highlight a systemic underrepresentation of the public sector in ESG scholarship, particularly in Southern Europe, underscoring the need for regionally grounded empirical studies. This study provides practical implications for improving ESG accountability in publicly funded institutions and contributes a novel approach that integrates efficiency, content, and bibliometric analysis in the ESG context. Full article

The digital business environment is rapidly evolving with advancements in information technology (IT), increasing the risk of information security incidents. Grounded in the resource-based view and in contingency theory, this study adopts a different approach from prior research by conceptualizing security management activities not as mere risk control mechanisms, but as strategic innovation drivers that can enhance corporate performance (sales revenue and operating profit). The authors develop a research model with six independent variables, including internal and external security management activities, CISO role configuration (independent or dual-role with CIO), and investment levels in IT and information security. The dependent variables include sales revenue and operating profit, with ISMS or ISO certification as a moderating variable. Using information security (IS) disclosures and financial data from 545 Korean firms that have reported their security management activities to the Ministry of Science and ICT, multiple regression and moderation analyses reveal that high IT investment negatively impacts performance, but this effect is mitigated when formal security systems, like ISMS or ISO, are in place. The results suggest that integrating recognized security frameworks into management strategies can enhance both innovation and financial outcomes, encouraging a proactive approach to security management. Full article

Sustainability reporting has evolved into a multidimensional field encompassing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure, integrated reporting (IR), and circular economy (CE) practices. This study aims to map the intellectual and thematic landscape of sustainability reporting research over the past decade, with a focus on sectoral differentiation. Drawing on bibliometric analysis of 1611 scientific articles indexed in Scopus, this research applies co-word analysis, thematic mapping, and bibliographic coupling to identify prevailing trends, conceptual clusters, and knowledge gaps. The results reveal a clear progression from fragmented debates toward a more integrated discourse combining ESG, IR, and CE frameworks. In the real economy, sustainability reporting demonstrates a mature operational focus, supported by standardized frameworks and extensive empirical evidence. In contrast, the banking sector exhibits emerging engagement with sustainability disclosure, while the public sector remains at an earlier stage of conceptual and practical development. Despite the increasing convergence of research streams, gaps persist in linking reporting practices to tangible sustainability outcomes, integrating digital innovations, and addressing social dimensions of circularity. This study concludes that further interdisciplinary and sector-specific research is essential to advance credible, comparable, and decision-useful reporting practices capable of supporting the transition toward sustainable and circular business models. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite medical advances, stigma remains a major challenge for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined clinical, sociodemographic, and psychological predictors of HIV-related stigma, and explored whether affective temperament moderates the impact of depression on stigma. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 97 PLWH attending a tertiary infectious disease unit in Rome, Italy. Participants completed a battery of validated psychometric instruments assessing depressive symptoms, anxiety, manic symptoms, mixed affective states, general psychopathology, impulsivity, and affective temperament. HIV-related stigma was evaluated using the Berger HIV Stigma Scale, which measures personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concerns with public attitudes. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample. Univariate linear regressions were conducted to explore associations between clinical, psychometric, and sociodemographic variables and each stigma subdimension, as well as the total stigma score. Variables significant at p < 0.05 were included in five multivariate linear regression models. Moderation analyses were subsequently performed to assess whether affective temperaments moderated the relationship between significant psychopathological predictors and stigma. Bonferroni correction was applied where appropriate. Results: Higher depressive symptom scores are significantly associated with greater internalized stigma (B = 0.902, p = 0.006) and total stigma (B = 2.603, p = 0.008). Furthermore, moderation analyses showed that anxious temperament significantly intensified the relationship between depressive symptoms and both negative self-image (interaction term B = 0.125, p = 0.001) and total stigma (B = 0.336, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms and anxious temperament are associated with HIV-related stigma. Integrating psychological screening and targeted interventions for mood and temperament vulnerabilities may help reduce stigma burden in PLWH and improve psychosocial outcomes. Full article

With the growth of the urban population and economic level, the issue of urban parking space shortages (UPSSs) has assumed growing prominence. This persistent issue not only exacerbates traffic congestion but also contributes to environmental pollution, highlighting the need for system-oriented mitigation strategies. First, an algorithm for mitigating UPSSs based on nudge theory was constructed, in order to determine how the nudge strategies work. Second, nudge tools, including gain disclosure, salience, and outcome notification, were integrated to construct a mitigation model for UPSSs, which synthesizes nudge theory, the model of self-regulatory processes involved in behavioral change, and system dynamics (NT-SPBC-SD theory). Finally, four scenarios of natural development, guide adjustment, balanced regulation, and enhanced change were simulated. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) The UPSS mitigation had multiple overlapping effects and critical point effects, and the nudge strategy gradually decayed or even rebounded over time. (2) Under the enhanced change scenario, the degree of UPSSs, the amount of illegal parking, and CO₂ emissions from civil vehicles decreased by 21.2%, 6.93%, and 14.54%, respectively. (3) After quantitative comparisons, the balanced regulation scenario with lower implementation costs instead demonstrated superior overall performance. The results support subsequent research and guide the enhancement of urban parking management policies to advance urban sustainability. Full article

In increasingly competitive digital markets, software firms must strategically balance cybersecurity investments and pricing decisions to attract consumers while safeguarding their platforms. This study develops a game-theoretic model in which two competing firms choose among three cybersecurity strategies—no action, bug bounty programs, and in-house protection—before setting prices. We demonstrate that cybersecurity efforts and pricing are interdependent: investment choices significantly alter market outcomes by influencing consumer trust and competitive dynamics. Our analysis reveals that a bug bounty program is preferable when consumer sensitivity to security and the probability of ethical vulnerability disclosures are high, while in-house protection becomes optimal when firms must rebuild credibility from a weaker competitive position. Furthermore, initial service quality gaps between firms critically shape both investment intensity and pricing behavior. By jointly endogenizing security efforts and prices, this study offers new insights into strategic cybersecurity management and provides practical guidance for software firms seeking to integrate security initiatives with competitive pricing strategies. Full article

In the evolving landscape of China’s capital markets, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations has become increasingly crucial for investors and decision-makers. Traditional financial performance metrics often fall short in capturing the multidimensional and long-term impacts of ESG factors. This study introduces a novel computational framework that combines domain-adapted pre-trained language models with structured financial regression analysis, aiming to empirically assess the correlation between ESG disclosures and long-term financial performance. This approach allows for the simultaneous processing of both structured and unstructured ESG data, using graph-based modeling and reinforcement learning to guide sustainability aligned policy optimization. Our empirical results show that firms with consistent and well-structured ESG strategies exhibit significantly superior long-term financial outcomes compared to those with weak or inconsistent ESG engagement. This study not only confirms the value of ESG engagement in enhancing financial resilience but also offers practical recommendations for investors, regulators, and corporate decision-makers, emphasizing consistent disclosure, sector-aligned ESG investment, and proactive adaptation to policy shifts. Full article

The effects of unsustainable actions persist, triggering and sustaining a discussion on strategies and controls required to mitigate the consequences. Greater disclosure is required by entities regarding the governance processes, strategies, and controls they employ to manage climate-related risks and opportunities, thereby creating an expanded role for accountants. With this expanded role, higher education institutions (HEIs) play a critical role in fostering and instilling sustainability values through the knowledge and skills they transfer to accounting students. HEIs must be assessed to ascertain if sustainability concepts are integrated into current accounting curricula, thereby addressing SDG 4, and SDG 12 which can be achieved through the knowledge these HEIs transfer. A contextual content analysis is carried out on the accounting curricula of 76 Nigerian universities to search for keywords related to sustainability. This study reveals a low level of integration; 16 of the 62 keywords were found in the curricula of 25 of the 76 universities studied. The results indicate the most frequently occurring keywords and the courses and universities associated with the most keywords. This study demonstrates that accounting education in Nigeria has not yet keyed into the program aimed at achieving the ‘Agenda’. This outcome underscores the need to review the existing accounting curricula to ensure that accounting education contributes to the movement towards sustainable development. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between disclosures related to Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) and the financial profitability of Romanian commercial banks during the 2017–2023 period. Using an unbalanced panel dataset of 17 banks and applying fixed-effects regression models, the paper examines how transparency around energy-related sustainability practices influences various dimensions of bank profitability: recurring earning power (REP), loan yield (LY), return on assets (ROA), and return on equity (ROE). Macroeconomic energy indicators, such as the energy intensity level of primary energy (EnInt) and renewable energy consumption (REnC), are also controlled for. The findings indicate that SDG 7.1 disclosures are negatively associated with all profitability measures, except for LY, suggesting potential short-term trade-offs between sustainability transparency and financial outcomes. In contrast, SDG 7.2 disclosures positively impact REP, ROA, and ROE, underscoring the financial relevance of renewable energy financing. SDG 7.a disclosures show no significant relationship with profitability, indicating limited operational involvement in global energy cooperation. Additionally, higher energy intensity negatively affects REP and LY, supporting existing evidence that energy efficiency improves banking performance. These findings have implications for banking strategy, emphasizing the need to align sustainability disclosures with business priorities while recognizing the long-term benefits of green finance and energy efficiency. Full article

This study examines the causal and dynamic effects of carbon information disclosure on firm value, using a policy-driven setting in China’s carbon-intensive industries. In 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment implemented a regulatory policy requiring internal carbon accounting and third-party verification for carbon-intensive enterprises, without mandating public disclosure. This exogenous policy shock offers a quasi-natural experiment to investigate how firms in carbon-intensive industries respond to environmental mandates through voluntary disclosure and how such disclosure affects their market valuation. Employing a difference-in-differences framework combined with two-stage least squares estimation, we identify a significant increase in carbon information disclosure following the policy intervention. This disclosure leads to a positive and growing effect on firm value, particularly when sustained over multiple years. Moreover, the valuation effect is moderated by regional environmental regulation: firms in areas with lower enforcement intensity benefit more from disclosure, as the signal is perceived to be more voluntary and credible. These findings provide robust causal evidence on the role of carbon information disclosure in shaping market outcomes under regulatory pressure. The study contributes to the literature on environmental regulation and corporate financial behavior in emerging markets. Full article

This study reviews and synthesizes the scholarly work on sustainability reporting as a governance tool in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. Bibliometrix R-package (Biblioshiny) and VosViewer are utilized to examine the descriptive and thematic outcomes using 148 articles from the Web of Science database. In contrast to previous bibliometric reviews, this study not only maps the broader landscape of the literature but also provides an in-depth exploration of three emerging thematic areas, offering a more nuanced understanding of the evolving discourse on corporate sustainability. Network visualization of keywords unveils three core themes within this research domain: Theme 1: sustainability reporting as a governance mechanism; Theme 2: the intersection of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and corporate sustainability; and Theme 3: the performance-accountability paradox in sustainability disclosure, which facilitated the identification of potential future research directions. The research outcome could contribute to institutional policies on sustainability reporting, highlighting (1) the importance of corporate governance in guiding businesses on policies and practices in sustainability reporting and mobilizing collective efforts among stakeholders on sustainability reporting, and (2) the awareness of using it as a platform to enhance the implementation of SDGs. This study underscores sustainability reporting as a disclosure mechanism and a pivotal governance tool for guiding institutional alignment with the SDGs. Full article

Background: Digital twin (DT) technology, integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), holds significant potential to transform oncology care. By creating dynamic virtual replicas of patients, DTs allow clinicians to simulate disease progression and treatment responses, offering a personalized approach to cancer treatment. Aim: This narrative review aimed to synthesize existing review studies on the application of digital twins in oncology, focusing on their potential benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations. Methods: The narrative review of reviews (NRR) followed a structured selection process using a standardized checklist. Searches were conducted in PubMed and Scopus with a predefined query on digital twins in oncology. Reviews were prioritized based on their synthesis of prior studies, with a focus on digital twins in oncology. Studies were evaluated using quality parameters (clear rationale, research design, methodology, results, conclusions, and conflict disclosure). Only studies with scores above a prefixed threshold and disclosed conflicts of interest were included in the final synthesis; seventeen studies were selected. Results and Discussion: DTs in oncology offer advantages such as enhanced decision-making, optimized treatment regimens, and improved clinical trial design. Moreover, economic forecasts suggest that the integration of digital twins into healthcare systems may significantly reduce treatment costs and drive growth in the precision medicine market. However, challenges include data integration issues, the complexity of biological modeling, and the need for robust computational resources. A comparison to cutting-edge research studies contributes to this direction and confirms also that ethical and legal considerations, particularly concerning AI, data privacy, and accountability, remain significant barriers. Conclusions: The integration of digital twins in oncology holds great promise, but requires careful attention to ethical, legal, and operational challenges. Multidisciplinary efforts, supported by evolving regulatory frameworks like those in the EU, are essential for ensuring responsible and effective implementation to improve patient outcomes. Full article

(1) Background: Physicians and medical students face unique barriers balancing career progression and their mental health. Some medical schools and residency programs have described interventions in which senior clinicians, residents, or medical students disclose their experiences with mental health diagnosis and treatment to peers, students, and those junior in training status. (2) Methods: The authors conducted a scoping review to describe how medical training environments incorporate the self-disclosure of mental health diagnosis and treatment by senior clinicians to junior trainees. They searched six databases and hand-searched references from relevant publications. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s steps for scoping reviews, at least two reviewers independently screened all publications for eligibility and extracted data from included publications. (3) Results: A total of 2326 unique publications were identified; eight were included. Psychiatry was the medical specialty most represented by physician–authors. One publication described an intervention that impacted learner’s behaviors, while the remainder (n = 7) focused on participant satisfaction. (4) Conclusions: Research aims often sought to describe behavior changes. However, most (n = 7) of the literature included in this study did not present the behavioral outcomes of implementing these interventions. This study aims to direct future research into the role of mental health history self-disclosure in medical training environments. Full article

This study investigates how firms in emerging markets respond to climate policy risk, with a particular focus on the dynamic role of green innovation in shaping carbon information disclosure. Using a difference-in-differences (DID) framework, we examine the impact of China’s 2018 carbon reporting policy, which represents an institutionally significant but non-mandatory regulatory intervention, on the disclosure behaviors of A-share listed firms from 2013 to 2022. The results show that the policy significantly increased firms’ attention to carbon information disclosure, especially among those with limited green innovation capacity. In contrast, firms with stronger innovation capabilities exhibited more stable disclosure practices, suggesting a buffering effect against regulatory uncertainty. Further analysis reveals that the moderating effect of green innovation changes over time, as innovation-oriented firms gradually adjust their disclosure strategies in response to evolving policy expectations. These findings highlight green innovation as a key internal resource that enables firms to strategically adapt to climate policy risks. This study contributes to the literature on climate risk management and corporate sustainability by providing empirical evidence on how dynamic capabilities shape disclosure outcomes and risk management strategies under changing regulatory conditions. Full article

As sustainability reporting and ESG disclosure gain global importance, understanding the factors influencing ESG outcomes becomes crucial for policymakers, investors, and corporate decision-makers. China, a major player in the global economy, has recently taken steps to align its stock exchanges with international ESG reporting standards. In this context, the study examines the individual and joint effects of digital transformation and CEO compensation on ESG performance, considering moderating factors such as firm size, state ownership, and CEO age and gender. The research employs a comprehensive dataset containing 16,205 firm-year observations from 2018 to 2022, combining financial data, ESG ratings, and a matrix of word frequencies related to digital transformation extracted from annual reports. The study adopts a firm-year two-way fixed effect model, utilizing panel data and control variables to address potential endogeneity concerns and unobserved firm heterogeneity. The findings provide evidence supporting the positive impact of digital transformation and CEO compensation on ESG performance. The level of digital transformation is positively associated with ESG performance. This relationship is stronger for larger firms and firms with older CEOs, while state-owned enterprises show mixed results compared to non-SOEs. However, the effect of CEO compensation and ESG performance is stronger for male CEOs. This study thus contributes to the growing literature on ESG performance, digital transformation, and executive compensation by providing insights into their relationships in the context of Chinese listed companies. Full article