An Analysis of Incentives for Australian Firms to Apply for Reporting Excellence Awards

An award for reporting excellence is presented annually to Australian reporting entities. This paper investigates whether firms that apply for the award are systematically different from firms that elect not to apply. The paper also investigates the benefits which may flow from winning an award for reporting excellence. The results of the paper are consistent with the proposition that such an award may be used by a firm as a means of reducing wealth transfers related to the political process.