Earnings manipulation is often associated with deceiving public information that is displayed in sustainability reports. Therefore, the current study aims to explore the nexus between earnings management and sustainability reporting practices in the context of Indonesia. This study employs 408 firm-year observations from listed companies in Indonesia during the 2010–2021 period to test the hypothesis using fixed effect regression analyses with standard error estimates. By examining their sustainability reports and financial statements over a specific period, the authors assess the extent to which earnings management influences sustainability reporting practices. This implies that companies engaging in earnings management practices are more likely to exhibit higher-quality sustainability reporting practices. The results contribute valuable and significant empirical insights into the interplay between earnings management and sustainability reporting specifically within the Indonesian context. Furthermore, this study goes beyond examining the relationship itself and delves into potential factors that may influence this relationship.

The relationship between intellectual capital and firm performance represents a critical facet of corporate governance, warranting comprehensive investigation. By analyzing data from 1151 non-financial firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange over the period from 2018 to 2022, the authors utilize fixed effect regression analysis to test their hypothesis. This study’s findings reveal a positive and significant relationship between intellectual capital and firm performance. Additionally, the interaction model incorporating political connections yields statistically significant results, indicating that political connections can moderate the relationship between intellectual capital and firm performance. This study makes a substantial contribution to the literature, particularly by advancing the understanding of corporate governance through the lens of intellectual capital’s influence on firm performance. It offers both theoretical and practical insights into the Indonesian context, highlighting the moderating role of political connections. Notably, this study is the first to incorporate interaction models to assess the impact of political connections on this relationship.