Sustainability accounting regulation in Spanish public sector organizations

Abstract

In 2011, the Spanish government made sustainability accounting mandatory for public sector organizations. This paper documents why, despite the new legislation, the quantity and quality of sustainability accounting practices remains low.

Keywords:

• Non-financial regulation
• public sector organizations
• Spain
• sustainability accounting
• sustainability reporting

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Spanish Government under Grant ECO2015-65782- P (MINECO/FEDER).

IMPACT

The Spanish government made sustainability reporting and related practices compulsory for public sector bodies in 2011. The aim was for the public sector to set an example for the rest of the country. The results were disappointing. Policy-makers and public sector managers will find the Spanish experience useful to develop effective sustainability reporting.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carlos Larrinaga

Carlos Larrinagaa is Professor of Accounting, Universidad de Burgos, Spain.

Mercedes Luque-Vilchez

Mercedes Luque-Vilchez is a Doctoral Student, Universidad de Burgos, Spain.

Rosa Fernández

Rosa Fernández is a Financial Manager, Junta de Castilla y León, and Doctoral Student, Universidad de Burgos, Spain.