Level Of Corporate Social Responsibility Research Articles

Can Corporate Social Responsibility Shift Consumer Behavior? Insights from Scenario-Based Experiment in the Fast Fashion Industry

This study investigates the interplay between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement and pricing strategies in shaping consumer purchase intentions in the fast fashion industry. Using a scenario-based experimental design with 267 participants, this research explores how different levels of CSR and two distinct price points influence purchasing behavior. Additionally, the moderating effects of individual differences, such as consumer wealth, motivations for sustainable behavior, and income, are examined. The findings indicate that higher levels of CSR engagement significantly enhance purchase intentions, particularly when combined with higher price points, perhaps due to consumer perceptions of CSR programs associated with more expensive brands as more authentic. However, price remains a critical factor for lower-income consumers, revealing an “ethical consumption gap” where affordability outweighs ethical concerns. Extrinsic motivations, such as social pressure, strongly influence wealthier consumers’ decisions, while intrinsic motivations show a more complex relationship with purchasing behavior. The findings provide practical insights for fast fashion brands, suggesting that aligning CSR with competitive pricing and authentic messaging is crucial for appealing to both price-sensitive and ethically conscious consumers.

Impact of Transparency on Public Trust in a Government Charity and Gaming Office as Mediated by Corporate Social Responsibility

Purpose: This study investigated the mediating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the relationship between transparency and public trust in a government and charity gaming office in Davao City. Materials and Methods: Using a quantitative, mediating design, samples of 300 clients were selected using stratified sampling surveyed through standardized modified instruments. The gathered data was analyzed using Mean, Pearson r, Regression and Medgraph using Sobel z-test. The pertinent results were presented appropriately in tables. Findings: The findings revealed an overall high level of transparency within the organization. Furthermore, the results demonstrated a very high level of public trust, as well as a very high level of CSR. The test of relationship revealed significant correlation among the variables. The mediation analysis revealed that CSR significantly mediated the relationship between transparency and public trust in the organization. The relationships between the variables are all significant; therefore, there is only partial mediation of CSR on the relationship between transparency and public trust. Partial mediation suggests that not only is there a significant relationship between the mediator and the dependent variable but that there is also direct relationship between the independent and dependent variable. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study has uncovered significant implications for practice, theory, and policy regarding the relationships between transparency, public trust, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). It was found that transparency is closely linked to public trust and CSR. Specifically, a strong correlation was observed between transparency and public trust and between transparency and CSR. Additionally, a significant relationship was established between CSR and public trust. Given the overall high level of transparency observed, the researcher suggests that the PCSO branch in Davao City should maintain this level in this domain and focus on enhancing transparency across other indicators, particularly in terms of secrecy. To address this, it is recommended that the organization improve its information dissemination practices to clients. Moreover, future researchers must delve deeper into the relationships among transparency, public trust, and CSR, particularly within the context of Davao City or other regions of the country. More empirical studies on these variables need to be conducted in these specific contexts. Thus, further research could provide valuable insights for both academia and policymaking.

The Influence of Socially Responsible Practices on Corporate Hedging

This study examines the nexus between firm hedging strategies and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Utilizing textual analysis of 10-K filings to measure corporate hedging, we find that firms with higher levels of CSR are more inclined to engage in hedging practices and with greater intensity. This tendency is further amplified in the presence of strong corporate governance frameworks. We posit that this is primarily driven by the mitigation of cash flow volatility, the cost of equity, and the cost of debt. Our analysis encompasses various endogeneity tests, including entropy balancing and an instrumental variables approach that considers political and geographic factors. The robustness of the results is further validated through alternative CSR and hedging metrics. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the strategic financial implications of CSR, highlighting the complementary role of CSR in corporate risk management.

CSR and Sustainable Environmental Performance: An Exploration of Mediating and Moderating Factors

Taking into consideration the moderating role of perceived organizational support within the framework of the natural resource-based view (RBV) theory, the purpose of this study is to investigate the connection between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable environmental performance. Specifically, this study focuses on the roles that green capability and green transformational leadership play as mediators in this relationship. Through the use of a survey questionnaire, information was collected from 420 employees working for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh. The data were analyzed with the help of AMOS and SPSS. The findings indicate that the level of CSR has a significant impact on the performance of sustainable environmental practices. To a large extent, green capability and green transformational leadership serve as mediators in the relationship between CSR and sustainable environmental performance. Furthermore, perceived organizational support plays a significant role in moderating the relationship between CSR and sustainable environmental performance. The relationship between green transformational leadership and sustainable environmental performance is also significantly moderated by perceived organizational support. This is a significant contributor to the connection. This multidimensional corporate social responsibility model can be used to assess sustainable environmental performance in both industrialized and developing countries, and it can also be extended to other service sectors, according to the theoretical conclusion that can be drawn from the research. This research demonstrates that there is a direct connection between corporate social responsibility and sustainable environmental performance. As a result, practitioners are able to develop strategies that are effective in terms of corporate social responsibility. These findings should be taken into consideration by policymakers and managers who are dedicated to promoting equitable development of the country.

Closed-loop supply chain decision making and coordination considering channel power structure and information symmetry

China is currently undergoing a phase of high-quality development, with increasing emphasis on the circular economy, energy conservation, and environmental protection by both the government and enterprises. This paper examines a secondary supply chain comprising manufacturers and retailers, focusing on three supply chain decision-making models: one where the manufacturer is the channel leader, one where the retailer is the channel leader, and one where both parties have equal power. The study investigates the impact of manufacturers misrepresenting their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) information and the challenges associated with recycling efforts on the optimal performance of the supply chain. The findings reveal that when manufacturers lead the supply chain, they do not misrepresent their private information. However, when retailers dominate, manufacturers tend to underreport their CSR levels and the difficulty of recycling efforts. In scenarios where manufacturers and retailers have equal power, manufacturers do not misreport the difficulty of recycling but do underreport their CSR levels. This misreporting benefits the manufacturers at the expense of retailers and overall supply chain profitability, while also discouraging the recycling of used products. Across all three power structures, the study shows that retailers’ marketing efforts decrease as the misrepresentation of recycling difficulty increases, and increase as the misrepresentation of CSR levels increases. To mitigate the effects of manufacturers’ misreporting under information asymmetry, the paper proposes revenue-sharing contracts and two-part pricing contracts to coordinate the closed-loop supply chain under different power structures. Both contracts are shown to achieve Pareto improvements within the supply chain. This research provides valuable insights for enterprises operating within closed-loop supply chains, highlighting the importance of enhancing communication and cooperation to bridge information gaps and ensuring the coordina.

Early-life epidemic experience and CSR

This study examines the link between the chairperson’s early-life epidemic experience and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using Chinese A-share listed firms over the time period of 2010–2020, our findings indicate that (1) the chairperson’s early-life epidemic experience contributes significantly and positively to CSR, as evidenced by elevated levels of both internal CSR and external CSR. In a difference-in-differences setting using firms that undergo chairperson changes, we find that there are significant increases in overall CSR, internal CSR, and external CSR after the firm was taken over by chairpersons with higher level of early-life epidemic experience. The relationship between the chairperson’s early-life epidemic experience and CSR remains robust after a series of robustness checks. (2) the downside risk positively moderates the relationship between the chairperson’s early-life epidemic experience and CSR. (3) The results of the heterogeneity analysis indicate that the promotional effect of the chairperson’s early-life epidemic experience on CSR is notably significant for chairperson with longer tenure, and there is no significant difference in the impact of the medical resource level of the chairperson’s birthplace on the aforementioned relationship. These findings shed light on the crucial role of chairpersons’ past experiences, such as early-life epidemic exposure, in shaping CSR practices.

On corporate total factor productivity: public procurement

PurposeThis study attempts to uncover the nonlinear relationship between public procurement and corporate total factor productivity (CTFP), and investigates the mediating roles of R&D investment and rent-seeking cost. Additionally, it conducts a heterogeneity analysis for firms with varying levels of political connections and corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approachEmploying Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Olley-Pakes (OP) methods, the authors gauge CTFP and manually identify government customers to quantify public procurement. Leveraging panel data from Chinese listed companies, this study explores the relationship between public procurement and CTFP.FindingsThis study unveils a U-shaped relationship between public procurement and CTFP, highlighting R&D investment and rent-seeking costs as potential mechanisms. Furthermore, it identifies heterogeneous effects among companies with varying levels of political connections and CSR on the relationship between public procurement and CTFP, including their mediating effects.Practical implicationsThis research enhances understanding of demand-side policies and provides crucial insights for the government to further improve public procurement policies.Originality/valueBy offering empirical evidence of how public procurement impacts CTFP, this paper enriches the literature on the behavioral repercussions of public procurement and the determinants of CTFP. It also overcomes the “black box” of the mechanism between public procurement and CTFP, based on the government’s dual role as a pathfinder and customer of enterprises. It broadens the application scenarios of institutional theory and principal-agent theory. Additionally, the heterogeneity analysis of firms with varying political connections and CSR extends the frontiers of related research.

INVESTORS' INTEREST IN THE REGULATORY EFFECT OF CASH FLOWS ON EXTREME CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Today, information users are interested in disclosing non-financial information regarding activities carried out within the scope of corporate social responsibility (CSR). In this context, the reflection of CSR activities, which can increase company reputation and stakeholder interest, on financial performance is important. The research aims to determine the relationship of cash flows with firm value at optimal and extreme CSR levels. The research uses data on companies with ESG scores in Turkey to determine the impact of CSR activities on firm value. The research applies panel data analysis to determine the impact of optimal and extreme CSR activities on firm value. The research points out that optimal CSR levels have a negative effect on firm value, while extreme CSR levels have a positive and significant effect. Additionally, the results reveal that cash flows positively moderate the relationship between extreme CSR levels and firm value. The research findings support that cash flows positively moderate the relationship between firm value and CSR at extreme levels. The research emphasizes the mediating role of cash flows by distinguishing between extreme and optimal CSR activities, in line with the literature on the relationship between CSR levels and firm value.

Corporate social responsibility on worker turnover rate and worker turnover cost: the role of symbolic image dimensions and the unemployment rate

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and worker turnover rate (WTR) and worker turnover cost (WTC) in Vietnamese garment companies, using the mediating role of symbolic image dimensions (SID) of employer image and the moderating role of unemployment rate. Design/methodology/approach This study uses Signaling Theory and Job Embeddedness Theory as theoretical frameworks to examine the mediating role of SID and the moderating role of the unemployment rate on the link between CSR and WTR, as well as the associated cost. Data from 119 Vietnamese garment companies are analyzed using structural equation modeling – AMOS software. Findings The findings suggest that CSR has a direct adverse effect on the WTR and an indirect effect on WTC through WTR. The results also indicate a direct relationship between the level of CSR adopted by companies and workers’ perception of the symbolic attributes of their company’s employer image as sincere, innovative, competent and prestigious. This, in turn, leads to a reduced rate of worker turnover. In addition, this study discovers the moderating influence of the region’s unemployment rate on the correlation between companies’ CSR and WTR. Practical implications The results indicate that companies should view CSR as a strategic tool to obtain better performance by achieving a win-win state of affairs with their workers. It also implies the influence of external economic factors on the relationship between CSR and worker turnover. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the economic benefits of CSR and the SID.

Extreme Weather and Firm Market Value: Roles of Corporate Social Responsibility and Stock Analyst Attention

ABSTRACT The outbreak of extreme weather events is increasing in frequency for the last decade, resulting in tremendous human and industrial losses worldwide. Evaluating and managing the effects of such events are highly urgent matters for firms, but the literature on this topic is limited. In this study, the effects of extreme weather events on the stock market performance of firms were estimated to provide a foundation for exploring how to manage such effects. From the perspective of the shareholder view, the heterogeneous effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on stock performance associated with extreme weather events were examined. Data on natural disasters that were caused by six types of extreme weather and occurred between 2001 and 2021 in China were used to construct a database of 2,718 Chinese listed manufacturing firms and 23,529 observations regarding the potential effects by extreme weather events. An event analysis indicated that the extreme weather events bring an average of 0.97% drop in the stock performance of potentially affected firms for the month that the event starts and the next month. A subsequent cross-sectional analysis revealed that a high CSR level is associated with low market value during extreme weather events, while a high level of stock analyst attention alleviates the negative effect of CSR on the stock performance of extreme weather events. This study enriches the existing literature and offers practical insights for managers in the fields of CSR and operations management, highlighting the complex dynamics between CSR activities, analyst attention, and stock market performance during extreme weather events.

CSR reporting practices of Islamic and conventional banks based on ownership differences

Purpose This study aims to provide a thorough knowledge of the context and degree of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting in the annual reports of Islamic and mainstream banks in Bangladesh and to investigate whether ownership and the level of CSR reporting are connected. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the content analysis method to examine 150 annual reports from the 30 listed banking companies as its sample. The data are fitted to an ordinary least square regression model to determine the impact of independent factors on the overall CSR reporting score. Findings The study’s findings show that, on average, Islamic and conventional banks (ICBs) in Bangladesh disclose CSR data at rates of 46.27% and 43.44%, respectively, ranging from 14.15% to 76.32%. Furthermore, according to the study, ICBs’ public share ownership and CSR reporting showed a significant relationship. Conversely, institutional share ownership and foreign share ownership have been found to have no significant relationship with CSR reporting in conventional banks, but institutional share ownership has been found to have a significant relationship with the CSR reporting in Islamic banks. Social implications The research is expected to obtain the most accurate situation of Bangladeshi ICBs’ CSR reporting. To formulate regulations in this regard, governmental and other regulatory authorities can also obtain comprehensive information on CSR reporting procedures. Originality/value The paper contributes to the CSR works, as it presents empirical evidence of the effects of ownership distribution on the CSR reporting of ICBs in developing countries such as Bangladesh.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ КОНЦЕПЦІЇ КОРПОРАТИВНОЇ СОЦІАЛЬНОЇ ВІДПОВІДАЛЬНОСТІ БІЗНЕСУ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ

This article analyzes corporate social responsibility (CSR) of businesses in Ukraine under martial law conditions. It explores the theoretical understanding and practical application of CSR in crisis situations, emphasizing the interaction of enterprises with society and their responsibility towards it. The aim of the research is to theoretically conceptualize corporate social responsibility of businesses and analyze the practical aspects of implementing the CSR concept by Ukrainian businesses during war. Research methods include the analysis of scientific literature, empirical methods, and content analysis of company websites, which allows for identifying and assessing the content of CSR initiatives. The results show that in wartime conditions, CSR takes on a more pragmatic and focused character, oriented towards supporting military efforts and infrastructure recovery, moving beyond conventional corporate reports and standards. The article defines CSR as an integral element of company management that integrates economic, ethical, ecological, and social standards into business development strategy on the basis of voluntariness and responsibility for the impact of actions on society and the environment, with the aim of ensuring sustainable development and the well-being of stakeholders. A comprehensive sociological survey of managers, employees, and consumers is proposed to determine the level of CSR in business as a whole, not just in large companies. Keywords: corporate social responsibility, martial law, social initiatives, community restoration, humanitarian demining.

Practices of Selected Pharmaceutical Companies on Integration of Community Empowerment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Development of Holistic and Sustainable CSR Framework

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a way to inspire business firms to perform in a manner appropriate to the desires of their stakeholders, thus, producing them to act dependably for the benefit of the business and society or community through creating a sustainable development program that could, in turn, gain credibility, positive image and reputation. This study highlights pharmaceutical companies’ practices in terms of CSR integration covering the four levels of CSR - philanthropic, ethical, legal, and economic. It will also discuss how do pharmaceutical companies integrate community empowerment in their CSR activities and up to what extent is the level of integration of community empowerment in terms of levels of society – micro, meso and macro. This research study will use the mixed method which are: qualitative and quantitative methods. The following are criteria in the selection of participants for interview. For qualitative approach, there will be twenty participants from five pharmaceutical companies. For quantitative approach (using survey questionnaire), there will be 360 respondents coming from 30 pharmaceutical companies. The extent of integration of community empowerment in CSR is highly linked to the extent of contribution to holistic and sustainable development.

Corporate governance, social responsibility and sustainability commitments by banks: Impacts on credit risk and performance

AbstractWith the increasing pressures to commit to social and environmental issues, banks align with stakeholders' expectations via corporate social responsibility (CSR), and sustainable development goals (SDGs) initiatives. Understanding how these initiatives affect credit risk and performance of banks is crucial for the economy. Relying on the dynamic generalized method of moments and data on Thai listed commercial banks from 2015 to 2020, we find commitments to good governance, CSR and SDGs largely have an opposite effect on bank credit risk and performance. Consistent with stewardship or resource dependency hypothesis, together with stakeholder and good management hypothesis, banks with more female directors, higher levels of anti‐corruption and SDGs commitments are associated with a reduction in credit risk. However, consistent with queen bee hypothesis and agency and trade‐off hypothesis, banks with larger board size, more female directors and higher levels of CSR and SDGs commitments underperform. This apparent contradiction between negative impacts on bank performance and positive impacts on credit risk can be reconciled by understanding the trade‐offs involved, the long‐term focus of sustainability initiatives, leading to a decline in short‐term performance but enhancing their resilience to adverse events, ultimately reducing credit risk. Our findings enable stakeholders to make informed decisions, improve sustainable business practices, and contribute to the long‐term success of banks and the broader society.

Comparing ad valorem and specific taxes with corporate social responsibility

AbstractThis paper examines the welfare ranking of indirect tax systems with corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a duopoly. Findings show that the two firms' cost and CSR asymmetries both play important roles. If the cost‐efficient firm has a higher CSR level, the standard result in traditional tax theory is sustainable. Namely, ad valorem tax (specific subsidy) policies are considered superior to specific tax (ad valorem subsidy) policies. However, if the cost‐inefficient firm has a significantly higher CSR level, the standard result is reversed. This result remains robust in an oligopoly model or under a tax revenue constraint.

THE EFFECT OF CSR ON EARNINGS MANAGEMENT: MODERATING ROLE OF BOARD DIVERSITY IN PAKISTANI LISTED FIRMS

This study examines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Earnings Management (EM) relationship with moderating role of board diversity of two types, i.e., female and foreign directorships on board. Content analysis is used for measurement of CSR through a data sample of 274 firms from the non-financial sector listed on Pakistan stock exchange for years 2012, 2014, and 2015. However, EM is measured over three discretionary accruals models Jones, Modified Jones, and Kothari models. Based on the results of descriptive analysis, it has been found that the level of CSR reporting has been improved in the post-CSR guidelines period as compared to the pre-CSR guidelines period. While results of regression analysis report that the higher CSR level of an organization the lesser would be the EM activities. This study suggests managers to concentrate upon CSR and board diversity for better earning management. Impact of board diversity on relationship as a moderator makes this study more novel because, as far as our research and previous literature is concerned, there has been very limited literature on this topic.

A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Consumer Response in the Chinese Context

Consumers’ attitudes toward corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their response levels can significantly affect a firm’s behaviors. Based on 61 research papers addressing CSR responses to consumers in China, this study conducted a meta-analysis on three variables: CSR type, CSR characteristics, and CSR publicity behavior, which impact the CSR relationship. The following conclusions are drawn: Corporate social responsibility (encompassing private and public moral dimensions) elicits a positive consumer response, with private moral behavior having a greater positive effect compared to public moral behavior. The four dimensions of CSR characteristics (CSR commitment, CSR level, CSR correlation, and CSR timing) all lead to positive consumer responses. Positive consumer responses also arise from CSR publicity behavior, including publicity initiative and publicity intensity. Additionally, product type, sample time, and sample source have significant moderating effects on these relationships.

Entry accommodation strategies in a shipping supply chain with corporate social responsibility

Carriers often enter new shipping markets and undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to attract more shippers. CSR generally refers to the integration of social and environmental factors by a firm into its business decision-making. This paper constructs a shipping supply chain composed of one port, one carrier, and one potential entrant carrier, where both carriers are committed to CSR activities. Two possible channel structures of the incumbent supply chain are considered: centralization and decentralization. Under both structure settings, we study the entry strategy of the entrant, accommodation strategy of the port, and impacts of entry on consumer surplus and social welfare. Our results show that (i) the entry and accommodation strategies depend on the CSR levels of carriers; (ii) downstream entry improves social welfare under centralization but may decrease it under decentralization; (iii) the entrant has more incentive to enter under decentralization than under centralization when the incumbent carrier has a high CSR level. However, the port might have less incentive to accommodate entry under decentralization; (iv) channel decentralization may improve consumer surplus and social welfare when the port accommodates the entry, while hurts these when the port deters the entry. Additionally, we find that under the case of endogenous CSR level, the entry and accommodation strategies depend on the CSR investment cost coefficient; and the entrant has a stronger entering incentive under uniform pricing than under differentiated pricing if the incumbent carrier has a low CSR level.

PRINCIPLES AND MECHANISMS FOR THE FORMATION OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF BUSINESS

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), or business social responsibility, is the enterprise's commitment to responsible practices regarding its products and services, employees, consumers, and partners. The social stance of a company, which emphasizes harmonious coexistence and dialogue with society to address pressing social issues, has only fully developed in the last few decades. Social responsibility should be a discretionary requirement for modern businesses. Unfortunately, in the domestic business environment, CSR does not yet hold a prominent place. This is characterized by a high level of shadow operations. However, in recent years, certain evolutionary processes have been observed in the Ukrainian business environment, which are associated with the general approaches to implementing CSR. CSR has become more systematic. The implementation of CSR can enhance profitability, improve a company's image, reduce costs, and boost employee morale. The promotion of CSR can be facilitated by the use of new technologies, the creation of new types of products, and innovative activities. Consequently, a company’s profits are generated through cost reduction, the formation of new markets for goods or services. This is the path chosen by developed companies, resulting in a higher level of CSR. However, this approach is quite risky for Ukrainian enterprises and requires long-term financial investments. A set of specific CSR principles can be proposed, the implementation of which should align with a system of general principles: transparency, systematicity, relevance, and partnership. A company has the right to call itself socially responsible when it operates according to these principles.

The Effect of Institutional Share Ownership, Ownership Structure, and Corporate Social Responsibility on Environmental Sustainability in Energy Companies in Indonesia

This research investigates the complex interplay between institutional share ownership, ownership structure, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and environmental sustainability in the context of Indonesian energy companies. A quantitative analysis utilizing structural equation modeling was employed to analyze data from a sample of 150 energy firms. The results reveal significant positive relationships: higher levels of CSR, increased institutional share ownership, and a more concentrated ownership structure are associated with improved environmental sustainability practices. These findings contribute to the understanding of the factors shaping environmental responsibility in the Indonesian energy sector, offering practical insights for companies and policymakers.