Stay Vigilant in Peace Time? Antitakeover Provisions and Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract

We examine how antitakeover provisions (ATPs) impact corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure for Chinese listed firms. The empirical results show that the level of CSR disclosure is positively related to the level of ATPs, and this relationship is primarily observed in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Further evidence indicates that this association is most prevalent in observations with lower efficiency or higher legitimacy pressures. Our paper provides new evidence on the mixed motivations for CSR disclosure in Chinese firms and offers insights into the moderating effects of ATPs in the context of weak corporate governance.