An Innovative Decision-Making Model for Alternative Regulatory Frameworks Based on Sustainable Development Goal Disclosure Costs

Abstract

The study explores the costs of disclosing sustainable practices within the decision-making process. We identify various sustainable development goal (SDG) disclosure costs, including litigation, regulatory, reputational, operational, and proprietary costs. The costs are discussed through the lenses of economic and socio-political theories, which highlight different motivations for disclosures. We reveal the interconnections among these costs and investigate the cause-and-effect interactions using a novel methodology that supplements the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique with quantum picture fuzzy sets (QPFS). Our findings show that the litigation cost has the greatest influence on other costs, followed by the regulatory cost, whereas the proprietary cost is the least influential. Further analysis reveals that experts rank mandatory disclosures, third-party assurance, and penalties as top regulatory frameworks to ensure effective disclosures. Our research assists managers in developing disclosure strategies that will minimize costs and provides valuable insights for policymakers in informing their regulatory frameworks. Overall, this helps enhance the effectiveness of disclosures and contributes to achieving SDGs.