The non-linear effect of CSR on firms’ systematic risk: International evidence

Abstract

This study examines the nonlinear effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firms’ systematic risk and identifies the degree of operating leverage as a channel through which CSR exerts its influence on firm risk. Using a large international sample of firms from 43 countries for the period 2005–2017, we find that the relationship between CSR and firms’ systematic risk is nonlinear, exhibiting an inverted U-shaped pattern. More specifically, our results show that initially risk rises with an increase in CSR but after reaching a threshold level of CSR, firms experience risk reduction as CSR increases. The CSR–risk relationship is moderated by a few country-specific factors, namely national CSR sustainability and legal environment. Our findings are robust to controlling for potential endogeneity of CSR.