Corporate Social Responsibility Engagement Research Articles

Exploring the Nexus of Perceived Organizational CSR Engagement, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Pride, and Involvement in CSR Activities: Evidence from an Emerging Economy

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming omnipresent in contemporary business environments given the growing awareness of the social role of business entities and their contribution to sustainable development. The research was conducted in order to explore the relationships between the perceived organizational engagement in CSR, job satisfaction due to CSR, organizational pride, and employees’ involvement in the company’s CSR activities. The research was conducted on a sample of employees in the life insurance department of a leading insurance company in Serbia, using a structured web questionnaire. Data analysis was performed on a sample of 138 respondents. Data were processed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), given the relatively small size of the sample, asymmetric data distribution, and the complexity of the relations. The study results point to a more influential role of CSR engagement in fostering organizational pride, compared to job satisfaction, with the latter as the most influential determinant of organizational involvement.

Double-edged sword of corporate social responsibility (CSR) halo: the role of CSR efforts and crisis type and severity

ABSTRACT In recent years, the restaurant industry has been struggling with a variety of brand crises, including both product and moral harm crises. To mitigate the negative impact of such crises on their brands, companies are actively engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. While a number of previous studies have investigated the influence of CSR on consumers’ responses to a brand in a routine setting, few have incorporated crisis-related situational variables into their examination of the role of CSR in a brand crisis situation. In order to test the extent to which the CSR halo plays a role in consumers’ evaluation in a brand crisis event, this study used a scenario-based 2 CSR efforts (low/high) x 2 crisis type (product harm/moral harm crisis) x 2 crisis severity (low/high) experimental design. The findings suggest that a higher level of brand engagement in CSR can offset the negative consequences of brand crisis in the case of product harm and less severe brand crisis, compared to moral harm and severe brand crisis, respectively. Our results provide valuable insights for companies wishing to respond successfully to a brand crisis event based on predicted consumers’ responses and on their CSR reputation.

Do female family managers affect corporate social responsibility in Chinese family firms?

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationship between female family directorship and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the specific context of Chinese family firms. It explores the moderating influences of gender inequality, family ownership and economic policy uncertainty. Based on social role theory, we find that female family directorship is associated with a stronger commitment to external CSR engagement than to internal CSR. Moreover, gender inequality and family ownership attenuate the relationship between female family directorship and external CSR, while economic policy uncertainty enhances their impact on external CSR. Overall, we contribute to the literature at the intersection of family firms, female leadership, and corporate social responsibility.

Corporate social responsibility, political connections, and barrier industry diversification: Evidence from China

In this paper, using the data of private sector enterprises listed in China from 2009 to 2014, we study the relationships between corporate social responsibility, political connections, and barrier industry diversification among Chinese public-listed private-sector enterprises. The empirical test results reveal that establishing political connections can contribute to diversification of these firms, while engaging in corporate social responsibility helps to promote their barrier industry diversification. More engagement in corporate social responsibility makes it easier for them to establish political connections and strengthen the association between political connections and barrier industry diversification. This study provides new empirical evidence for not only understanding the relationship between political connections of these firms and access to economic resources but also a new perspective regarding their conduct related to corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Communication strategies for effective CSR and stakeholder engagement in the oil & gas industry: A conceptual analysis

This conceptual analysis explores communication strategies for effective Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder engagement in the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas sector faces increasing scrutiny from stakeholders, including communities, governments, NGOs, and investors, regarding its social and environmental impact. Effective communication is crucial for companies to build trust, manage expectations, and demonstrate their commitment to CSR. The analysis discusses key communication strategies that companies can employ to enhance CSR and stakeholder engagement. These strategies include transparency, dialogue, collaboration, and storytelling. Transparency involves providing clear and accurate information about the company's CSR initiatives, performance, and impact. Dialogue involves engaging with stakeholders to understand their concerns, gather feedback, and address issues. Collaboration involves partnering with stakeholders to co-create solutions and maximize the impact of CSR initiatives. Storytelling involves sharing compelling narratives about the company's CSR efforts to inspire stakeholders and build a positive reputation. The analysis also highlights the importance of tailoring communication strategies to the specific context of the oil and gas industry. This includes addressing the unique challenges and sensitivities associated with oil and gas operations, such as environmental risks, community impacts, and regulatory complexities. Overall, the analysis emphasizes the importance of communication in driving effective CSR and stakeholder engagement in the oil and gas industry. Companies that adopt transparent, dialogue-driven, collaborative, and storytelling-based communication strategies are more likely to build trust, enhance their reputation, and create positive social and environmental impact.

CSR attribution: Is it the cornerstone of CSR success?

PurposeThe current study aims to propose and empirically investigate a conceptual model of the most relevant antecedents and consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) attribution, thus providing a practical and concise model as well as examining brand attachment as a mediator explaining the relationship between CSR attribution and its consequences.Design/methodology/approachA between-subjects experimental design was employed. The study included two experimental conditions; intrinsic and extrinsic CSR attribution and a control condition. An online self-administered survey was utilised for data collection. The sample was a convenience sample of 336 university students. Both one-way between-groups ANOVA and Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) were utilised for hypotheses testing.FindingsThe most significant antecedents of CSR attribution in order of importance are the firm's approach to CSR communication, past corporate social performance, CSR type and the firm's call for customers' participation in its CSR. CSR attribution exerted a significant direct positive impact on brand attachment and trust. Three significant indirect consequences of CSR attribution were PWOM intention, purchase intention and brand loyalty intention. Whereas trust played a significant mediating role between CSR attribution and its three indirect consequences, brand attachment exerted significant mediation only between CSR attribution and brand loyalty intention. Brand attachment might mediate the relationship between CSR attribution and purchase intention. However, brand attachment failed to play a mediating role between CSR attribution and PWOM intention.Originality/valueSeveral studies marginally investigated CSR attribution. Despite the vital role of CSR attribution in how consumers receive firms' CSR engagement, the availability of CSR attribution-centric studies is limited. By introducing a model of the most relevant antecedents and consequences of CSR attribution, this study aids in understanding the psychological mechanism underlying consumers' CSR attribution and provides valuable implications.

Do anticipated government environmental audits promote corporate social responsibility? Evidence from China

AbstractWe examine the impact of China's announcements of upcoming government environmental audits (GEAs) on firms' corporate social responsibility (CSR). We hypothesize that firms, especially heavily polluting firms, engage in more CSR to proactively burnish their public image to weather forthcoming adverse outcomes from a GEA. Our baseline findings confirm that firms respond to the government's GEA announcement by engaging in more CSR. Additional analysis suggests that reputation concerns and environmental fines mediate the impact of GEA announcements on CSR. Cross‐sectional analyses show that the effect of GEA announcements on CSR is more salient for firms: (1) in a business environment in which GEAs are more effective, (2) that CSR engagement is critically important, or (3) that CSR can serve some special function. Overall, our findings imply that it is generally a good government policy to implement GEAs.

Assessing corporate social responsibility in South Africa’s built environment industry

PurposeStudies showed that stakeholders want the construction sector’s organisations to be more accountable and transparent regarding social and environmental issues through corporate social responsibility (CSR). There is a paucity of literature regarding CSR implementation in the construction sector, especially in developing countries like South Africa. Hence, the study evaluated CSR’s merits and hindrances and suggested solutions to enhance its implementation in the South African construction sector of Mpumalanga Province.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers employed a questionnaire survey method to collect data from 68 useable respondents in the South African construction sector of Mpumalanga Province. The main section of the questionnaire was divided into three parts, each addressing an objective mean item score ranking technique.FindingsFindings show management lacks willingness, absence of recognition for implementing CSR at tender adjudication, professionals regard CSR as a “soft issue,” inadequate ability to carry out CSR initiatives and lax CSR knowledge emerged as the key issues hindering construction stakeholders, especially construction companies, from participating in CSR in South Africa. The research suggests initiatives to enhance CSR in the construction industry.Originality/valueThe study shows that the findings can be used to improve the implementation of CSR engagement and possibly enhance a policy to stimulate friendly CSR in the South African construction sector.

Do labor unions enhance corporate social performance? Evidence from Korean financial markets

This study examines the impact of labor unionization on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in South Korean listed companies, particularly in the context of chaebol-affiliated firms. Using a dataset of 2,622 firm-year observations between 2005 and 2009, the study employs regression analyses to explore the relationship between unionization and CSR performance. Key findings indicate a significant negative correlation between labor unionization and CSR engagement, suggesting that unionized firms exhibit less involvement in CSR activities. This association, however, is not significant in chaebol-affiliated firms, where the unique corporate structure and shared resources appear to mitigate the influence of labor unions on CSR. Furthermore, the study reveals a positive link between CSR initiatives and labor productivity in unionized firms, indicating that CSR may enhance employee efficiency. The study highlights the intricate relationships between labor unionization, corporate governance, and CSR, particularly in the context of Korean business conglomerates. It emphasizes the importance of aligning labor interests with CSR commitments and underscores the role of effective corporate governance in promoting CSR activities. The positive impact of CSR on labor productivity underscores its potential in boosting employee performance. AcknowledgmentThis work was supported by the Gachon University research fund of 2023. (GCU-202303770001).

The price of corporate social irresponsibility in seasoned equity offerings: International evidence

We examine the impact of poor corporate social responsibility engagement signalled through negative environmental and social (E&S) incidents on equity financing via seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) across 25 countries. The results show that negative E&S incidents significantly aggravate SEO underpricing, thereby increasing the cost of raising equity capital. Managers appear to take the adverse effects into consideration as reflected in the reduced likelihood of issuing equity following the experience of negative E&S incidents. Further analysis shows that such adverse pricing effects are stronger for firms that are subject to significant social and regulatory penalties for their E&S misconducts, suggesting that negative E&S incidents increase corporate reputational losses and elevate regulatory risk. Finally, there are rich cross-country variations in the SEO pricing effects of E&S risks with legal investor protection and national culture playing an important role in influencing the pricing of E&S risk.

Responsible risk-taking and the CSP-financial performance relation in the banking sector: A mediation analysis

In this study, a mediation analysis is conducted using data for 394 banks listed in 54 countries from 2002 to 2017 with the aim to investigate the role of bank risk-taking as a mediation channel to explain the CSP–financial performance relationship in the banking sector. Results show that stronger CSP is associated with improved financial performance and this relationship is partially mediated by bank risk-taking, with CSP increasing financial performance through the reduction of bank risk. Adopting more prudent—less risky or speculative—banking practices is a key method through which banks can embody social responsibility, given the systemic importance of bank stability. However, such banks tend to be more financially successful. The empirical results are consistent across various robustness checks, thereby supporting to the notion that corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement helps banks to achieve a “win-win” situation—more profitable yet more responsible and less risky banks.

The impact of firm risk on the value of cash holdings: The moderating role of corporate social responsibility

This study investigates the impact of firm risk on the value of cash holdings, and how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects this relationship considering controlling shareholders. Using a sample of Taiwanese publicly listed firms from 2005 to 2018, we find that firms' CSR activities are more positively associated with the value of cash holdings because of controlling shareholders' incentive effects in most cases. Moreover, the precautionary view suggests that high-risk firms positively influence the value of cash holdings. Interestingly, considering controlling shareholders weakens the moderating impact of CSR engagement on the relationship between firm risk and value of cash holdings. Thus, CSR is an important determinant of corporate cash policies among Taiwanese firms. Our empirical results provide managers, investors, and policymakers with important decision-making insights.

CSR implementation for the garment supply chain performance: a system dynamic approach

ABSTRACT As a social and environmental-sensitive industry, garment firms are trying to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) to cope with the increasing pressure of public concerns for globalised socially responsible supply chains (SC). We build such a model by using the System Dynamics (SD) approach. With the mechanism of mutual interactions between different variables of a complex system, our study examines different conditions of CSR implementation in the SC under which it is profitable for SC actors. Our sensitivity analysis demonstrates that when CSR implementation can stabilise market demand, firms’ CSR investment is beneficial. Our study provides a theoretical and managerial foundation that may be used to strengthen the consideration of CSR engagement in the garment SC. By analysing the covariance of factors influencing decision making to implement CSR strategies, our approach allows SC managers to make CSR decisions and production management. Furthermore, the model provides tools for evaluating and forecasting the effectiveness of their CSR strategies according to industry specifics.

Impact of dividend policy on corporate social responsibility: the role of board governance mechanism

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of dividend policy on a firm’s participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR)-related activities in the context of Pakistani firms. Furthermore, the role of the board governance mechanism in dividend policy-CSR is investigated. Design/methodology/approach The study’s sample consists of 115 nonfinancial Pakistan Stock Exchange-listed firms from 2010 to 2021. A multidimensional financial method is used to assess the firm’s CSR engagement, and dividend policy is assessed using the dividend payout ratio and dividend yield. The authors used the fixed effect model and the random effect model to fulfill the study’s objectives. Furthermore, the system-generalized method of moment estimation technique is used to test the robustness of the result. In addition, the authors perform reverse causality analysis and investigate the effect of financial constraints on the dividend policy–CSR relationship. Findings The authors find that dividend policy has a significant positive impact on CSR. The authors also find that dividend policy is significantly positively associated with components of CSR, i.e. donation, employee welfare and research and development. Furthermore, the authors find that the board governance mechanism strengthens this positive relationship between dividend policy and CSR. Practical implications The government and authorities must mandate or at least encourage enterprises to pay dividends as doing so not only keeps shareholders happy but also encourages firms to make CSR initiatives to balance stakeholders. Furthermore, the regulator should take steps to strengthen the board governance structure as it strengthens the positive dividend policy–CSR relationship. Originality/value Although little previous research has focused on the CSR-dividend policy link, the authors believe that this is the first study to look at the influence of dividend policy on CSR and the moderating impact of board governance mechanisms in an emerging country, namely, Pakistan.

Can CSR engagement improve firm’s resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic? Evidence from the Moroccan stock market.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically the role of corporate social responsibility engagement on stock returns during the COVID-19 crisis in the case of a sample of Moroccan-listed companies. The authors use a difference-in-difference (DiD) regression estimated on a panel dataset of a sample of 23 Moroccan listed companies for the period spanning from March 2019 to March 2021. We identified the connection between CSR activities and financial returns by comparing the monthly stock returns of the treatment and the control groups. Empirical results reveal that the pandemic-induced decrease in stock returns is stronger for firms with CSR activities. It means that engaging in CSR activities does not immunize Moroccan firms during the pandemic. Our findings show that Moroccan’s stock market is unable to positively value CSR activities. The results indicate that agency problems lead Moroccan investors to overinvest in costly CSR activities, which reduce the value of the firms in times of the COVID crisis and delay their recovery from it. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the relationship between CSR activities and the resilience of Moroccan companies. Also, this study is distinguished by using the DiD method and by exploiting data from the Eikon Refinitiv database.

Does Supplier Instability Affect Corporate Social Responsibility? A Theoretical and Empirical Study

Prior literature typically focuses on how corporate social responsibility (CSR) is affected by the external environment and firms’ characteristics but ignores features in the supply chain. To fill this gap, we provide theoretical and empirical analyses of the role of supplier instability in CSR engagement. Specifically, our game-theoretical model considers a two-echelon supply chain where an upstream supplier is unstable and a downstream retailer makes the CSR investment. The model generates several testable hypotheses as follows: 1) the effect of supplier instability on CSR engagement is negative; 2) supplier instability mainly affects internal CSR engagement; 3) the negative instability–CSR relationship decays with the increase of supplier instability; and 4) the instability–CSR effect is more pronounced under supplier-led Stackelberg structure than retailer-led Stackelberg structure. Using a sample of Chinese firms from 2010 to 2019, we verify the above hypotheses by providing concrete empirical evidence. Our empirical estimations are robust after using the Heckman selection model to solve the endogenous selection bias.

Does Corporate Social Responsibility Engagement Reduce Earnings Management? Evidence from Cambodian-Listed Companies

This research aims to explore the influence of ethics on financial reporting quality by investigating the correlation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and accrual-based earnings management (AEM) within a sample of Cambodian non-financial listed companies over the nine years from 2014 to 2022. The study reveals that the level of involvement in AEM is lower in Cambodian firms, which have a higher tendency to engage in charitable activities. The study's findings hold significant implications as they contribute to a deeper understanding of financial reporting practices and CSR initiatives, which may interest stakeholders, including investors, regulatory bodies, and scholars interested in ethical business practices. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of ethics on the quality of financial reporting, particularly within emerging economies.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Employee Satisfaction: The Mediating Effects of Work-Life Balance Support and Work Stress

Businesses embrace the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This study investigates the individual effect of perceived internal CSR and external CSR on employees’ job satisfaction. Moreover, this investigation explores the mediating roles of perceived work-life balance support (WLBS) and work stress (WS). The researchers use partial least square structural equation modeling to test the data from employees in Taiwan. The results prove that perceived internal CSR and external CSR positively and significantly affect job satisfaction. Perceived WLBS partially mediates the perceived internal CSR–job satisfaction and perceived external CSR–job relationships, whereas WS partially mediates only the perceived internal CSR and job satisfaction relationship. Moreover, perceived WLBS and WS sequentially mediate the CSR and job satisfaction relationship. The study’s findings suggest that it is vital for firms to strengthen internal and external CSR engagements to promote WLBS, thereby reducing WS and ultimately increasing employees’ job satisfaction.

Why do sports goods manufacturers choose different corporate social responsibility engagements?

This study examines the impact of financialization and product market competition on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagements in sports goods manufacturing industry. Utilizing a dataset of China's listed firms, we employ textual analysis to identify organizations within this sector and create a panel data model to analyze the determinants of CSR engagements. Our empirical findings reveal that financialization and product market competition positively influence shareholder-related CSR engagements. Additionally, product market competition enhances the effect of financialization on these engagements. Conversely, a negative correlation exists between product market competition and stakeholder-related CSR engagements. Moreover, firms not categorized as State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) or within high-pollution industries show a positive response in CSR engagements to both financialization and product market competition. Our results also highlight that managerial compensation and financial constraints modify the impacts of financialization and product market competition on shareholder-related CSR engagements. Collectively, our findings shed light on the challenges that sports goods manufacturing firms face in aligning their primary goals with CSR commitments.

When does CSR payoff?

AbstractWe investigate whether firms engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR) can preserve firm value during normal and unprecedented exogenous adverse events. Our evidence shows, in regular times, a negative relation between CSR engagement and firm value, but under adverse economic conditions, CSR protects firm value by decreasing firm risks. We also find that firms with high managerial attributes engage in greater CSR activities that benefit shareholders in both normal and aberrant financial times. Despite the controversy surrounding CSR, our evidence points out that CSR can be viewed as a set of intangible assets that can improve firm value across good and bad economic states when firms are run by high‐attribute managers.