How does corporate social responsibility influence firm financial performance?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sourour Ben Saad ◽  
Lotfi Belkacem

Purpose This paper has three main purposes. First, this paper aims to study the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firm financial performance. Second, this study aims to examine how mandatory CSR disclosure impacts financial performance. Further, this paper aims to investigate the intervening role of capital structure decisions on the relationship between CSR and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach Based on a sample of French non-financial listed companies over the period 2006–2017, this study uses structural equations modeling and a difference-in-differences approach to highlight these effects. Findings This paper finds that CSR has a significant positive association with financial performance. In addition, although the mandate does not require firms to spend on CSR, the socially responsible firms experience an increase in profitability subsequent to the mandate. Finally, this study argues and finds evidence that the relationship between CSR and financial performance is mediated through the capital structure channel. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature in several ways. First, the study provides a new research stream by examining the effect of mandatory CSR disclosure on firm financial performance. Second, is to knowledge the first to examine whether and how CSR affects financial performance through the capital structure channel.

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Salehi ◽  
Mahmoud Lari DashtBayaz ◽  
Sohila Khorashadizadeh

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditures and firm financial performance in an emerging market. Design/methodology/approach The authors examine the hypotheses by performing panel data analysis on a sample of 159 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2010–2015. Findings The findings suggest that the investment in CSR initiatives is significantly and positively associated with firm financial performance as proxied by changes in return on assets. Moreover, the findings confirm a positive and significant association between CSR expenditures and firm financial performance as proxied by both the future changes in return on assets and the future changes in operating cash flows scaled by total assets. Originality/value The present study has examined the relationship between CSR and firm financial performance in a country where, to the authors’ knowledge as in most other developing markets, such a relationship has not been a subject of empirical research. Besides, the use of a three-dimensional measure of financial performance, primarily considering research undertaken in an emerging market, as a valuable contribution may be observed.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agung Nur Probohudono ◽  
Astri Nugraheni ◽  
An Nurrahmawati

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure on the financial performance of Islamic banks across nine countries as major markets that contribute to international Islamic bank assets (Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Bahrain and Pakistan or further will be called QISMUT + 3 countries). Design/methodology/approach Islamic Social Reporting Disclosure Index (ISRDI) is being used as a benchmark for Islamic bank CSR performance that contains a compilation of CSR standard items specified by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions. The secondary data is collected from the respective bank’s annual reports and it used the regression analysis techniques for statistical testing. Findings This study found that CSR disclosure measured by ISRDI has a positive effect on financial performance. Almost all ISRDI sub-major categories have a positive effect on financial performance except the “environment” subcategory. The highest major subcategory for ISRDI is the “corporate governance” category (82%) and the “environment” category (13%) is the lowest. For the UAE, Kuwait and Turkey, the ISRDI is positively affected by financial performance and the other countries on this research are not. Originality/value This study highlighted the economic benefits of social responsibility practices as a part of business ethics in nine countries that uphold the value of religiosity. Thus, the development of the results of this research for subsequent research is very wide open.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahnoor Zahid ◽  
Hina Naeem ◽  
Iqra Aftab ◽  
Sajawal Ali Mughal

Purpose The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the effect of corporate social responsibility activities (CSRA) of the firm on its financial performance (FP) and analyze the mediating role of innovation and competitive advantage (CA) in the relationship between CSRA and FP in the manufacturing sector of an emerging country, i.e. Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Data has been collected through an electronic structured questionnaire from 300 middle-level and top-level managers by surveying different manufacturing firms of Gujranwala, Pakistan. The study’s hypotheses have been checked by analyzing the reliability and validity of data and applying confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling through statistical package for the social sciences and analysis of moment structures. Findings Outcomes of this study supported the hypothesized model. It has been found that the CSRA plays a significant positive role in determining the FP of the firm. Furthermore, the CA and innovation have been proved as significant mediators between CSRA and FP. Originality/value The first time examining the intermediation of innovation and CA in the relationship between CSRA and FP is the primary input of this study to the literature. Practically, this study’s findings will help strategy makers of manufacturing firms in emerging countries develop better strategies for implementing CSRA, enhancing innovation, seeking CA and improving FP.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Alam ◽  
Mustapha Ibn Boamah ◽  
Yuheng Liu

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between a commercial bank’s micro-loaning activity and overall performance over a 10-year period. Design/methodology/approach Quarterly data was obtained from the Wind Database, China Minsheng Banks’s official annual reports and annual corporate social responsibility reports from 2009 to 2019, to test the linear relationship between micro-loan activities and the overall financial performance of the bank. Findings The results of this study empirically demonstrate that there is a positive relationship between increases in micro-loaning activity and the overall performance of the bank. Some key recommendations for the sector are shared in the conclusion of this paper. Originality/value In the financial sector, some corporate social responsibility activities focus on the issuance of micro-loans. It is unclear, however, if this has also served as a means to increase profitability and overall performance for such institutions.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shafat Maqbool ◽  
Nasir Zamir

PurposeThe research on the role of corporate social responsibility in investors' decision process has proliferated over the past few decades. This paper aims to explore the mediating role of financial performance in the relationship between corporate social responsibility and institutional investors.Design/methodology/approachPanel regression was performed on a sample of 29 commercial banks nine years from 2009 to 2017.FindingsThe initial findings of the study show that that corporate social responsibility has a positive and significant impact on institutional investors. However, when the interaction term (financial performance) was incorporated, the relationship between CSR and institutional turns out to be neutral. The study concludes that financial performance plays a pivotal role in the selection of investment avenues.Originality/valueIn Indian context, there is a dearth of research work which studies the impact of sustainable practices on investors' decision process. This topic has received wider attention but lacks insights from developing countries, like India. This article presents a new approach to verify the relationship through the mediating variable (financial performance).


Author(s):  
Nur Hanisah Razali ◽  
Nizam Jaafar ◽  
Ismail Ahmad

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities can lead the company to gain better recognition from citizens and investors. CSR has become one of the added values for a company in increasing competition from global and domestic. However, there are some critics who contend that the CSR benefits surpass the actual cost and some also claim that for the company to be socially responsible is too expensive. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) impacts on the Islamic Banks' financial performance, specifically in Malaysia. This study used Fixed Effect Regression Model to achieve the objectives of this study. The independent variables used to determine CSR comprise of environment, community, and workplace and marketplace expenditure ratio. Meanwhile, to measure the financial bank performance that is the dependent variable, Return on Asset (ROA) is used in this study. Based on this model, the researcher concluded that CSR’s elements which are environment, community, and marketplace have significant impacts on banks financial performance. This is consistent with Stakeholder Theory which states that the firm financial performance is determined by external stakeholders. In order to enhance the study future research may segregate the focus of the study specifically on Islamic Bank or conventional banking. Future research may also conduct research on the different industries.


2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 1097-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwang-Ho Kim ◽  
MinChung Kim ◽  
Cuili Qian

We attempt to provide a more nuanced view of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm financial performance using a competitive-action perspective. We argue that competitive action should be considered as an important contingency that determines the effects of CSR activities on firm financial performance. Using data for 113 publicly listed U.S. firms in the software industry between 2000 and 2005, we found that socially responsible activities (positive CSR) enhance firm financial performance when the firm’s competitive-action level is high, whereas socially irresponsible activities (negative CSR) actually improve firm financial performance when the competitive-action level is low. By introducing competitive action as an important contingency, this study contributes to the literature on CSR and strategic management.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shafat Maqbool ◽  
Shabir Ahmad Hurrah

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance from the bi-directional perspective. Design/methodology/approach The final sample for this study are 79 companies listed in the national stock exchange for a period of eight-years (2008–2015). Random effect panel regression was performed to examine the possible link. Findings The result shows that CSR has a positive impact on the contemporaneous and future financial performance of the selected companies. Further, the study shows that only social dimension has a positive and significant impact on concurrent and future financial performance. The results further validate slack resource theory as lagged financial performance has a positive and significant impact on CSR. Practical implications The strategic value of CSR indicates that it should be seen as a value-enhancing strategy, and therefore, incorporated with the broader corporate strategy of the company. Companies should not trade-off between CSR and financial performance, rather a strategic synchronization of CSR with corporate functioning is essential. This will pave a way to build a stakeholder-sense in the corporate entities. Originality/value The study comprehensively examines the relationship between CSR and financial performance from both “prospective” and “retrospective” framework. This bi-directional approach has received minimal attention in the Indian context.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 304
Author(s):  
Van-Thi Dao ◽  
Manh-Trung Phung ◽  
Hongwei Cheng

Within recent decades, researches on corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been receiving more attention over the world. The existing literature on CSR is very diverse, both in evaluating the performance of CSR activities as well as and the relationship between CSR disclosure and firms’ outcome. This paper extends the literature of the latter case, that is, not only it aims to purely examine the relationship between CSR disclosure activities and corporate financial performance (CFP), but also consider this nexus under economic policy uncertainty (EPU) context. Our primary data is collected from more than 500 listed companies in the Vietnamese stock market from 2013 through 2017, while secondary data (CSR and EPU) are self-calculated under serial criteria. Our results support the hypothesis that the more companies intensively disclose CSR, the higher financial performance (both ROA and Tobin’s Q) they could obtain. More interestingly, we find that while EPU seems to weakly moderate the relationship between CSR disclosure and “internal financial performance” (ROA), it will significantly diminish the effect of CSR toward “external financial performance” (Tobin’s Q). The research shed light on an approach to measure CSR disclosure indexes for the emerging market as in Vietnam. Our findings encourage the firm’s managers to pay more attention to CSR disclosure activities due to the positive benefit that their firm could obtain and suggest policymakers to maintain a stable economic background for a sustainable market.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina Buallay ◽  
Gagan Kukreja ◽  
Esra Aldhaen ◽  
Muneer Al Mubarak ◽  
Allam Mohammed Hamdan

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and firms' operational, financial and market performance (measured in the form of return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and Tobin's Q (TQ), respectively) in the Mediterranean countries from a stakeholder perspective.Design/methodology/approachResearch is quantitative in nature, based on a cross-sectional and time-series analysis of 203 firms listed in six Mediterranean countries for 10 years from 2008 to 2017, with 1,689 observations. The theoretical model is built on a stakeholder theory. The practical model is built on the independent variable (CSR) and the dependent variables ROA, ROE and TQ.FindingsThe findings deduced from the empirical results indicated that CSR disclosure negatively affects operational and market performance but does not affect financial performance.Practical implicationsStudying the relationship between CSR disclosure and firms' operational, financial and market performance, with the consideration of variations, can bring many benefits internally by being more conscious of important activities that should be undertaken and externally by detecting what regulators and other stakeholders want for better sustainable development.Originality/valueThis research adds value to the existing limited literature of CSR disclosure on firm's performance in the Mediterranean countries, and it gives tips of advice for firms to manage CSR disclosure wisely.


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