Sustainability Assurance in the Light of the Legitimacy Theory
Sustainability Assurance in the Light of the Legitimacy Theory

Summary/Abstract: Background. This article presents the findings of the analysis concerning the sustainability assurance role shown in the light of legitimacy theory. The paper draws arguments from literature to identify the roles of legitimacy theory in accounting for sustainable development and sustainability assurance. The article’s thesis is that sustainability assurance is an important source of legitimacy for a socially responsible company. The paper highlights the need to evolve the sustainability assurance in the face of fast growing reporting of socially responsible companies. Research aims. The objective of this paper is to present the importance and development of sustainability assurance carried out in the light of legitimacy theory. Methodology. The research method used in order to answer the research questions consisted in a critical literature and regulation review. The formulation of conclusions is based on deductive and inductive concluding with the use of methods of analysis and synthesis. Findings. On the basis of a positive approach it may be concluded that sustainability assurance can be treated as a tool for sustainable business legitimacy. This paper may help sustainable business to advance accounting for a sustainable development by striving to ensure higher transparency of the accounting system data by sustainability assurance,which allows both internal and external legitimation of the socially responsible company status. Conclusions from the analysis may be also helpful in the development of the standardization and legal regulation concerning sustainable assurance.

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