This paper studies whether firms opportunistically make proprietary claims in mandatory environmental disclosure programs with trade secret exemption rules. Examining the mandatory chemical disclosure program in the fracking industry, I find evidence of opportunistic withholding of information among operators that are less likely to have trade secrets. Specifically, I find that these operators claim fewer chemicals as trade secrets when the operating site is in close proximity to water quality monitors. This is only observed among publicly traded operators that face a higher cost of societal backlash when disclosing pollutant information. Further analyses suggest that these operators are concerned about external environmental monitoring, which deters them from opportunistic information withholding. Regarding public and private operators that are more likely to have trade secrets, I do not find strong evidence that their information withholding varies with the monitoring conditions.

Prof. Anson Yile JIANG
Accounting and Law
Assistant Professor
3917 0444
KK 603
Academic & Professional Qualification
- Ph.D., Accounting, The University of Melbourne
- M.Comm., Accounting, The University of Melbourne
- M.Mgt., Accounting, The University of Melbourne
- B.A., Journalism, Tsinghua University
Biography
Prof. Anson Jiang’s research lies at the intersection of accounting, environmental economics, and public policy, with a focus on the role of disclosure and transparency in environmental regulatory settings. Anson received his PhD and master’s degrees from The University of Melbourne and a BA from Tsinghua University. He is a licensed CPA in mainland China.
Teaching
- Introduction to Financial Accounting (ACCT1101)
Research Interest
- Pollution Information
- Information-based Regulation
- Environmental Economics and Policy
- Management Control System
Selected Publications
- “Comply or explain: Do firms opportunistically claim trade secrets in mandatory environmental disclosure programs?”, Journal of Accounting Research, 62(5), (2024), 1755-1794. (Dissertation)
- “The interdependence between the choice of fixed-term professional workers and the control environment”, with Sujay Nair, Margaret Abernethy, and Anne Lillis. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 113, (2024), 101525.
- “Manager ‘growth mindset’ and resource management practices”, with Margaret Abernethy, Shannon Anderson, and Sujay Nair. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 91, (2021), 101200.
Recent Publications
1Dec
1 Dec 2024
Journal of Accounting Research