Accountability in state-owned enterprises: a comparative analysis of sustainability reporting

Purpose In the context of enhancing the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this paper aims to explore the nature and level of sustainability reporting by New Zealand and South African state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Design/methodology/approach The study uses a mixed-methods approach, involving the content analysis of relevant reporting documents from 2020 to 2022, and semi-structured interviews with purposively selected SOE role players. Findings The findings indicate that, overall, the sustainability reporting of the sampled SOEs in both countries is low, and there is an inconsistent trend in the three years considered. The sustainability reporting of South African SOEs appears to be better compared to that of New Zealand SOEs. Originality/value This paper represents one of the only comparative papers on this topic in the context of SOEs in two countries renowned for robust corporate disclosures. The authors discuss the research, policy and practice implications of this study and conclude by providing avenues for future research.