Exploring the drivers of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure in an emerging market context using a mixed methods approach

Zahra Adardour (), Slimane Ed-Dafali (), Muhammad Mohiuddin (), Omar El Mortagi (), Hicham Sbai () and Brahim Bouzahir ()
Additional contact information
Zahra Adardour: Université Chouaib Doukkali, Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG)
Slimane Ed-Dafali: Université Chouaib Doukkali, Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG)
Muhammad Mohiuddin: Université Laval
Omar El Mortagi: Université Chouaib Doukkali, Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG)
Hicham Sbai: Université Chouaib Doukkali, Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG)
Brahim Bouzahir: Université Chouaib Doukkali, Ecole Nationale de Commerce et de Gestion (ENCG)

Future Business Journal, 2025, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-23

Abstract: Abstract With the economy evolving, business landscapes shifting, and regulations tightening, companies are increasingly integrating ESG criteria into their strategies and more transparent in their disclosures. The aim of this study is to explore the current state of ESG disclosure in an emerging economy (Morocco) and to identify the main motives and challenges faced by Moroccan companies and their impact on ESG disclosure practices. We used a mixed methods approach, based on a quantitative survey conducted among 66 experts, distributed equally between men and women and analyzed by PLS-SEM approach, as well as a qualitative method based on a series of semi-structured interviews with 19 experts in the field. We concluded that ESG reporting motives and challenges impact positively and significantly on ESG disclosure practices. Further, gender is moderating and strengthening the relationship between ESG reporting motives and practices. Indeed, ESG disclosure level is improving in the context of Moroccan companies and regulatory mechanisms provide effective framework for developing ESG disclosure practices. This study has important implications for policymakers, regulators, and companies operating in an emerging country context.

Keywords: ESG practices; ESG reporting; ESG barriers; Gender diversity; Mixed methods; Emerging markets; Morocco (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1186/s43093-025-00530-w Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:futbus:v:11:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1186_s43093-025-00530-w

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://fbj.springeropen.com/

DOI: 10.1186/s43093-025-00530-w

Access Statistics for this article

Future Business Journal is currently edited by Soad Kamel Rizk and Hayam Wahba

More articles in Future Business Journal from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().