The Value Relevance of Sustainability Reporting Practices: A Bibliometric and Qualitative Synthesis of Scientific Literature in the Post-GFC Era

Abstract

This bibliometric review attempts to synthesise the literature on the growing importance of sustainability reporting for the value investors. The paper outlines the evolving nature of sustainability reporting by analysing 574 articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases published during the post global financial crisis (GFC) period, giving specific attention to its firm performance and market valuation. Our findings identify the most cited papers, influential authors and thematic clusters in this area, highlighting how sustainability reporting influences firm performance in both financial and non-financial dimensions, and how these disclosures impact market valuation. The analysis identifies ‘the Journal of Business Ethics’ as the leading contributor to advancing knowledge in this field. Additionally, our qualitative synthesis offers valuable insights into the theoretical foundation of sustainability and empirical findings of the value relevance of sustainable reports that provide the conceptual backbone of discussions. Finally, the paper proposes the research trends and a future research framework based on the research gap identified.