Governance mechanisms, accounting regulation, and corporate disclosure in the aftermath of Covid-19: Novel research questions and methodological opportunities

Abstract

Research Issue

In this commentary, we sought to highlight research opportunities in terms of how governance mechanisms, accounting regulation, and corporate disclosure were affected by Covid-19 (C19) and shaped the economic landscape in the post-C19 period.

Research Insights

The outbreak of the C19 triggered significant researchers' interests in the fields of business and economics for two main reasons: first, to the economic and social consequences of the crisis, and the impact of various policy interventions enacted by governments and supra-national institutions worldwide and, second, the availability of microdata on the spread of the pandemic and vaccines, complemented economic and financial data to assess the effects of policy interventions in curtailing the crisis.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

We envision two potential avenues for further study: first, research on the impact of C19 and policy interventions in areas of interest, and, second, using the C19 disruption as a “laboratory” to unravel research questions on how various characteristics of firms, governments, and regulatory bodies affect the response to systemic crises, assuming that pre-existing characteristics are not related to the crisis event.

Policy Implications

Relevant and rigorous research on the effects of C19 and the policy interventions is likely to be informative to governments, financial regulators, and supra-national institutions facing future instances of systemic crisis.