Does Heterogeneous CSR Affect Corporate Performance?

Abstract

The market rivalry and China’s ongoing economic expansion are both contributing to a gradual rise in shareholder influence over businesses. Fulfilling corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming more and more important to improve corporate performance, gain long-term competitive advantage and achieve sustainable development. Based on panel data of 514 listed Chinese A-share companies from 2015-2019, this study applies a two-way fixed effect model to examine the effect of CSR on corporate performance from stakeholders’ perspectives. And it also examines the mediating effect played by green technological innovation and the moderating effect of two basic corporate competitive strategies on the role of CSR in corporate performance. The study’s findings indicate that: (1) the fulfillment of CSR has a significant positive impact on corporate performance. (2) Green technology innovation plays a part in mediating the process of fulfilling CSR in promoting corporate performance. Internal CSR fulfillment enhances corporate performance by boosting investment in green technology innovation, but external CSR fulfillment enhances corporate performance by decreasing investment in green technology innovation. (3) The positive effect of CSR on corporate performance is weakened by an increase in the level of low-cost strategies, while the positive relationship between CSR and corporate performance is strengthened by an increase in the level of differentiation strategies.