Ultimate ownership, corporate social responsibility and firm value: evidence from China

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Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship among ultimate ownership, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm value using firm-level data from Chinese listed companies. Design/methodology/approach Using a panel data of Chinese listed firms during 2010–2018, this paper estimates with correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Findings The larger the divergence between ultimate owner’s control rights and cash flow rights, the stronger motivation is to infringe corporate interests and cover up misconduct through CSR. While the larger the cash flow rights, the more conducive to restrain the ultimate owner from CSR investment. The state-owned enterprises have a higher CSR. Furthermore, the separation of control rights and cash flow rights is significantly negatively related to firm value, whereas cash flow rights positively affect it. State-owned ultimate owner has a negative impact on firm value. CSR plays a significant mediating effect between ultimate ownership and firm value. Originality/value This paper reveals the tunneling and disguising effect of CSR and provides a new approach for the affecting mechanisms between ultimate ownership and firm value.