The Comparability of Non-Financial Information: An Exploration of the Impact of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD, 2014/95/EU)

Abstract

Abstract This study explores the impact of the implementation of Directive 2014/95/EU on the comparability of non-financial information across listed European firms, focusing on the usage of non-financial reporting (NFR) frameworks – those developed by the SASB, IIRC, OECD, EFFAS, GRI, UNGC, ISO, AA, and FEE. Using computer-aided text-analysis software (MAXQDA 2022), we analysed the annual reports and stand-alone non-financial (sustainability) reports from listed firms in the STOXX Europe 600 Index covering 2012–2020. The results showed that the implementation of the Directive led to an increase in the use of investor-oriented NFR frameworks (e.g. that of the SASB); frameworks oriented towards a wide range of stakeholders (e.g. GRI) are predominantly used by voluntary adopters. Furthermore, although disclosures by resisters (mandatory adopters) indicate a stronger focus on investors, the disclosure of non-financial information exacerbated information asymmetry for resisters, whereas NFR mitigated information asymmetry for voluntary adopters.