Integrated reporting (IR), which aims to overcome the limitations of both traditional
financial and stand-alone non-financial reports, has gained momentum as a
single comprehensive tool merging financial and non-financial information. Initially
conceived for private sector entities, IR is also establishing itself in the public sector
context as a vehicle for transparency and accountability.
This research offers an empirical investigation of IR practices in the State-Owned
Enterprises (SOEs) context. More specifically, the paper investigates the levels of
disclosure provided through IR by a sample of 34 European SOEs and explores the
effects of potential explanatory factors. The results indicate a fair level of IR disclosure
and a trend of reporting information already requested under international accounting
standards. The findings also highlight that industry (basic materials and
financials) and size positively influence the level of IR disclosure in a particularly
strong way, while governance features (board size and board gender diversity) and
the provision of external assurance do not exert any impact.