Importance Investors and other stakeholders around the world are becoming increasingly concerned with corporate social and environmental policies. As a result, many organizations are voluntarily increasing the extent of disclosure of non-financial information in their reports. At the same time the academic community fails to reach consensus on the role of corporate social responsibility in the system of accounting types. Numerous international publications on this subject allow identifying accounting areas, which have been significantly evolving for the recent years, and areas that have been insufficiently studied. Objectives The purpose of the paper is to identify, compare and critically analyze promising trends in the theory and practice of social accounting and non-financial reporting to create opportunities for further research. Methods The research uses methods of analysis, synthesis, grouping and comparison to review and systematize various academic views on corporate social responsibility as a subject of the accounting science. Results We analyze subject matters and contents of scientific publications the leading global accounting journals of Scopus data base have released for the recent five years. As a result, we provide an overview of areas covered by contemporary researchers; describe the most vital issues existing at the current phase of social accounting and non-financial reporting. Conclusions and Relevance As the research shows, rapid development of corporate social responsibility reporting initiatives entails an array of theoretical and empirical challenges in contemporary accounting science and practice, since entities and stakeholders have different approaches to understanding, interpreting and providing assurance as to such statements. Research results may prove helpful in educational, methodological and scientific activities.
Keywords: corporate social responsibility, social, environmental accounting, non-financial reporting, integrated report, sustainable development, stakeholder theory
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