Funds for research about integrated reporting in South Africa

Researchers at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) and the University of Gothenburg have been given research funds of SEK 650,000 for studies on integrated reporting in South Africa.

NASDAQ OMX Nordic Foundation has granted SEK 650,000 to the project "Better Information To The Market? - The Impact of Integrated Reporting on Capital Market User Groups ". This project will be running for two years and will mainly fund the collection of data and the field studies in South Africa. South Africa is a leader in integrated reporting and the first country to require such reporting by listed companies in South Africa.

Professor Gunnar Rimmel and Associate Professor Petra Inwinkl from JIBS, together with Senior Lecturer Kristina Jonäll from the University of Gothenburg, will carry out the study. The project will promote collaboration with researchers from Henley Business School, University of Bristol and University of the Witwatersrand, which are all leaders in integrated reporting research. The results will be presented at international conferences and a book will be written along with international researchers.

"We are very pleased that NASDAQ OMX Nordic Foundation supports research in integrated reporting. Integrated reporting is a relatively new phenomenon among international accounting researchers. Through collaboration with scientists from South Africa and the UK, it will be possible to gain access to capital market players in South Africa. Our research has received positive responses from researchers in the UK and South Africa, who appreciate that we follow the Scandinavian research tradition of qualitative studies", says Professor Gunnar Rimmel.

The researchers will look at an array of different issues. To what extent can integrated reporting potentially provide better information to the capital market? Has there been a change in understanding between investors and companies because of the integrated reporting information? What actions are necessary for companies to produce integrated reports?

For more information please contact
Gunnar Rimmel, project leader
gunnar.rimmel@jibs.hj.se
+46 36-10 18 03