Sectoral Differentiation of the Timeliness of the Publication of Periodic Reports in the Time of the Covid-19 Pandemic-Case of the Warsaw Stock Exchange

Abstract

The aim of article is to verify the timeliness of periodic reports by issuers from Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) during COVID-19 pandemic years and period immediately preceding it. Main hypothesis of the study is following: COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the timeliness of the publication of periodic reports by issuers belonging to selected WSE macrosectors, which resulted in the extension of the average time of their submission. The obtained research results did not allow for a positive verification of that hypothesis. Data on the median of publication days of periodic reports preceding the deadline indicate that in as many as 7 of the 8 indicated macrosectors it is higher in COVID-19 pandemic, which indicates that in 2020-2022 the issuers from the WSE published reports earlier than in 2018-2019. Only in the HEALTHCARE macrosector the results were consistent with the adopted research hypothesis. The considerations in the article deepen the knowledge of a feature of financial statements, which is timeliness. The authors point to the lack of research in this area in the period of  COVID-19 pandemic. This study is intended to encourage related researchers with accounting to take up this important issue in their research.