Corporate Transparency And Disclosure: Metrics Of Macedonian Joint Stock Companies

Abstract

The disclosure and transparency of joint stock companies is fostering safe and sound governing of joint stock companies and reduces the risks of corporate crises and scandals. The purpose of the research is to identify the transparency level of the Macedonian listed companies that are obligated to comply with the Corporate Governance Code of the Macedonian Stock Exchange, according to 20 indicators related to the publication of information on the company's website and in their annual reports. The study adopts a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. Qualitative component involved collecting and examination of data for 20 corporate governance indicators obtained from reliable sources. Quantitative analysis entailed assessing and scoring each indicator based on predefined criteria, followed by statistical processing and graphical representation of the results using Microsoft Excel. The research has shown that the average transparency level of analysed joint stock companies belongs to the “good” level. Considering the findings, the study provides recommendations aimed to enhance the transparency practices of Macedonian joint stock companies.