The purpose of this article is to present a framework to understand transparency in the third sector and then to explore the main research streams regarding the disclosure of information and accountability by conducting a systematic literature review on the antecedents and dimensions of the transparency of information disclosed by non-profit organizations (NPOs). The essential questions of this work are addressed from an international perspective. In particular, we explore three research questions: (1) why should NPOs disclose transparent information to stakeholders? (2) Why do not all NPOs disclose transparent information? (3) What means do NPOs use to disclose transparent information? Our results highlight the lack of transparency legislation in the third sector, leading NPOs to adopt the voluntary disclosure of information policies to improve the perceived credibility of these entities by their stakeholders. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of developing a systematic body of knowledge regarding the situation of transparent, voluntary information disclosure in the sector. Moreover, the Sustainable Development Goals promulgated by the United Nations place a high value on transparency for the accountability of institutions. To achieve sustainable development, both peace and the governance of institutions are needed. Reducing corruption and promoting transparency are among the goals which should be reached to achieve social sustainability.
20 November 2023 in Nonprofit Management and Leadership
There is widespread acknowledgment of the importance of nonprofit good governance with a need for guidance on different effective mechanisms to increase ethical practices for the whole sector to assist professionals and researchers. This study explores two research questions: (1) What are the main reasons that inspire nonprofit organizations (NPOs) to implement good governance mechanisms? (2) What are the good governance mechanisms conducted by NPOs? The purpose is to serve as a reference and an instrument of reflection for interested NPOs exploring good governance mechanisms to make their accountability work more effective. We used a systematic literature review methodology for identification, selection, and analysis of published research on nonprofit good governance. A set of 89 articles published until 2021 was analyzed, and a new classification that identified 3 lines and 13 sublines of research was provided. Our results show that a variety of internal mechanisms and international third‐party initiatives are underpinned by the need to adhere to standards of ethics and honesty.
One of the most complex challenges currently faced by non-profit organizations (NPOs) is demonstrating that they manage resources with the highest levels of efficiency and excellence, and do not deviate from the accomplishment of their mission. Transparency and good governance are highly valuable issues for the survival of these organizations. However, empirical studies and models to measure these concepts are scarce and lack consensus. The objective of this article is to develop a uniform procedure for measuring the levels of transparency and good governance in NPOs, validated by experts, that integrates the most important contributions. The main proposals are supported by lists of indicators whose compliance they try to verify. Finally, we considered the experts’ preferences to obtain the indicator weights by means of the Best–Worst Method and Minimum Cost Consensus model. The result of our work is the development of a list of indicators, which integrates the existing battery of Spanish indicators. We contribute, with this work, to improving the credibility of the third sector from the perspective of donors, users, public administrations, and society. This is an essential issue for the survival of these NPOs.
Green taxes are an instrument for the development of many destinations where overtourism generates different externalities, helping to alleviate them and create sustainable tourism. Funds raised through green taxes can be used to finance conservation, environmental restoration, and sustainable development initiatives. However, these taxes are often unknown to tourists visiting a city and can often generate mistrust and even discomfort when they are forced to pay them. In terms of the management implications for destinations, green taxes should be seen and conveyed as a means to achieve both economic and environmental sustainability of destinations and not yet another tax to be borne by the tourist. For this reason, the aim of this study is to explore the factors that affect both the positive attitude and the willingness to pay these taxes. Thus, the opinion about green taxes of 120 university students from different countries were collected to use a structural equation model (SEM) to try to provide answers to the different hypotheses put forward. Young people represent a growing part of the tourism market, shaping the trends and practices of the sector, making them central to the future of tourism. The study seeks to deepen theoretical knowledge on this subject and to provide a series of conclusions and recommendations for education regarding green taxes. In addition, our study on green taxes has a direct relationship with the sustainable development goals promulgated by the United Nations, as both seek to promote balanced economic, social, and environmental development.
4 May 2021 in Technological and Economic Development of Economy
We are currently witnessing the development of a set of organizations that have been entrusted with meeting the very diverse needs of citizens. As a result, they receive funds, in order to ensure they are managed appropriately. The transparency of the information revealed by Non-profit Organizations (NPOs) has become of increasing interest to public authorities and research. However, very few studies empirically measure the extent of transparency in NPOs. Only a handful checked the compliance of various indicators, lacking agreement on which ones to include and their weighting. To address this issue, this study empirically validates the weighting of the indicators from the alliance between the Platform for Social Action NGO and the Spanish Coordinator for Development NGO (CONGDE) document with experts in NPOs’ opinions. We use the Best-Worst Method (BWM) to optimally assign weights to multi-criteria decision making situations. Our results show interesting differences in the level of importance given to the indicators by public authorities and experts, suggesting the need for a revision of the importance proposed.