Interpreting the ESG Movement Through Accounting ft. Dr. Shiva Rajgopal

This episode is a part of the ESG Paradigm Shift Series, where we examine different angles of the ESG phenomenon and its broader implications for finance and prosperity.  In this episode,  Kaitlyn Allen talks with Dr. Shiva Rajgopal, the Kester and Byrnes Professor of Accounting and Auditing at Columbia Business School. He is the Departmental Editor of the Accounting Track of Management Science and an Associate Editor at the Journal of Accounting and Economics. Professor Rajgopal has also been a faculty member at Duke University, Emory University, and the University of Washington. His research interests span financial reporting, earnings quality, fraud, executive compensation, and corporate culture. Professor Rajgopal’s research is in popular press, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Fortune, Forbes, Financial Times, Business Week, and the Economist. He teaches fundamental analysis of financial statements for investors, managers, and entrepreneurs and a Ph.D. seminar on accounting regulation. Professor Rajgopal was awarded the 2006 and 2016 American Accounting Association (AAA) Notable Contribution to the Literature award, the 2006 and 2016 Graham and Dodd Scroll Prize given by the Financial Analysts Journal, and the 2008, 2012, and 2015 Glen McLaughlin Award for Research in Accounting Ethics.     This episode is a refreshing change of pace as we review academic perspectives and how they add value to the ESG conversation. Listen as Dr. Rajgopal (“Shiva”) explains ways to interpret the ESG trend through the accounting lens. Shiva admits that he was once an ESG skeptic, but through research has concluded that ESG is a response to the inadequacy of traditional financial reporting to capture material risks in a globalized economy. Research drives academic conversations relevant to ESG, but they often stay within academia; Shiva encourages academics to join the conversation. He shares his opinion that accounting models and standards must keep up with times. Shiva helps us to re-examine some of our ways of thinking. Who is the mythical shareholder that we always reference? Is ‘long washing’ the ultimate ESG idea? Tune in to learn more. Dr. Rajgopal Forbes columns:: https://www.forbes.com/sites/shivaramrajgopal/#2cf290cb2294 Subscribe to the ESG Decoded Podcast on your favorite streaming platform, YouTube, and social media so that you’re notified of new episodes. Enjoy tuning in!