Association between Internal Control and Sustainability: A Literature Review Based on the SOX Act Framework

With the integration of sustainable development into all aspects of the economy, politics, society, culture, and ecology, the effectiveness and innovation of enterprises in sustainability have become global research issues. Internal control affects the current operation and management as the main means for enterprises to maintain normal production and operation and prevent risks. Therefore, it is closely related to the future development of enterprises. This study uses 84 papers from Web of Science to systematically trace the determinants of enterprise sustainability using Vosviewer software and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) as a manifestation of internal control to analyze the role and controversies of internal control in the process of enterprise sustainable strategic planning. The results show that internal control has, on the one hand, positive effects on enterprise sustainability by improving the quality of financial information, derived effects, and spillover effects. However, on the other hand, internal control can be detrimental to enterprise sustainability by increasing compliance costs and legal liabilities. This study points out opportunities and directions for improving enterprise internal control regulation and empirical research in response to such results. Finally, this study provides implications for enterprises seeking to achieve a sustainable level of development regarding the proper implementation of internal controls, as well as avenues for further research.