Corporate social responsibility of Islamic and conventional banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 582-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Aracil

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the sustainability practices of Islamic and conventional banks, with the aim of evaluating whether their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies converge or diverge in response to formal and informal institutions in an emerging country.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on institutional theory, this study contextualizes the competitive scenario through the National Business System (NBS) framework, and showcases the CSR strategies employed by large conventional and Islamic banks in Turkey. CSR patterns are examined from different angles such as motivations, strategy, actions and institutional results.FindingsWithin the same institutional environment, Islamic and non-Islamic banks combine convergent and divergent models to accommodate institutional realities in their CSR policies. Islamic banks exhibit an implicit commitment to CSR that is mostly based on informal institutions, whereas conventional banks use explicit CSR strategies as a means to fill the voids in formal institutions. In addition, philanthropy-oriented CSR prevails in Islamic banks, as opposed to the CSR actions associated with core business that are followed by conventional banks.Social implicationsAn increased focus on formal institutions and explicit CSR actions by Islamic banks may further contribute to social well-being in emerging countries.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the paucity of research, from an institutional perspective, related to CSR practices amongst Islamic and conventional banks in emerging countries.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tze Kiat Lui ◽  
Mohd Haniff Zainuldin ◽  
Ahmad Nazri Wahidudin ◽  
Chuan Chew Foo

PurposeThe purpose of this study aims to empirically examine the corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) levels of conventional and Islamic banks in Malaysia. Additionally, as Malaysian banks have different shareholding patterns that are more highly concentrated than those in the developed economies, this study also investigates the impact of ownership concentration on CSRD in both types of banks.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs hand-collected corporate social responsibility (CSR) data from the annual and sustainability reports of 21 conventional banks and 16 Islamic banks in Malaysia during 2010–2017. The data are then run using the pooled ordinary least square (OLS) with robust standard errors and robust regressions models together with all possible factors determining CSRD in the banking sector.FindingsThis study discovers that Islamic banks disclose a higher level of total CSRD than their conventional counterparts after controlling a number of important determinants of CSRD. These results remain consistent for four different dimensions of CSRD, i.e. employees, communities, environment and products and services. In relation to the impact of ownership concentration on CSRD level, the results show that high ownership concentration reduces the level of CSRD by Malaysian banks. However, in an additional interaction test, the result exhibits a complementary relationship between Islamic banks and ownership concentration in influencing CSRD level.Research limitations/implicationsThis study finds that the principle of Islamic accountability has been internalised by Islamic banks, and shaped them to put equal emphasis on the disclosure of CSR practices and the financial information disclosure.Practical implicationsIt is recommended for all banks to ensure the integration of a more comprehensive ethical system, such as theological ethical values in every aspect of their business activities. The findings from this study also highlight the necessity for the central bank to increase their monitoring role, especially towards banks with a more concentrated ownership structure by limiting the size of shareholdings by any particular types of owners.Originality/valueOnly a few studies have compared CSR practices between these two types of banks, and most of them are descriptive and qualitative in nature. This study is the first that uses a robust model with a high R-squared value, which control for all possible factors determining CSRD in the banking sector.


2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigufta Hena Uzma

Purpose This paper aims to examine how the governance structure incorporates corporate social responsibility (CSR) into corporate behaviour in the perspective of the external environment within emerging countries. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the various CSR legislations enacted in the global context and in particular reference to the Indian Companies Act 2013. Findings The embedded relationship between CSR and corporate governance (CG) is an outcome of extensive dimensions such as ownership structure, stakeholder approach and other external environmental factors such as the government regulations and legislation, legal enforcement and corporate disclosure culture. Originality/value The enactment of the Companies Act 2013 in India has infused a new direction for the corporations in implementing CSR and CG practices. This paper throws light on the coverage of the Companies Act 2013 and various challenges faced by the companies in the applicability of the CSR and CG framework in the Indian context.


2015 ◽  
Vol 02 (04) ◽  
pp. 1550036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Moudud-Ul-Huq

This paper has been made to analyze the linkage between corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. From analysis, it is found that Eastern Bank Ltd. (EBL) performs better than other selected banks but not enough in practicing corporate social responsibility. While, conventional banks are more imperative than Islamic banks as all the indicators cover its benchmark apart from return on total assets. It has proved that there is a significant relationship among return on equity, earnings per share, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility but corporate social responsibility has shown little impact on corporate performance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1759-1777 ◽  
Author(s):  
SoYeon Jung ◽  
Seoki Lee ◽  
Michael Dalbor

Purpose The purpose of the current study is to investigate the possible existence of a synergistic effect of internationalization and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on a firm’s value performance. Design/methodology/approach To empirically test the argument, this study analyzed data from 40 US-based publicly traded restaurant companies (251 observations) from 2000 to 2011 by performing a two-way fixed-effects model. Findings This study’s findings support the hypothesis that when implemented simultaneously, internationalization and CSR have a negative synergistic impact on a restaurant firm’s value performance. Practical implications Restaurant managers might need to inquire thoroughly into the timing and content of CSR investment strategies while entering into new international markets. Restaurant executives may additionally need to focus more on effective risk management than other issues (e.g. growth or reputation) when developing both internationalization and CSR strategies simultaneously. Originality/value By suggesting and demonstrating a negative synergistic effect of internationalization and CSR on a firm’s value, this study presents new and unique insights into previous research regarding the combined effect of the two strategies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 658-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo Souza-Monteiro ◽  
Neal Hooker

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how socio-economic and institutional factors impact UK food retailers’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies as revealed in corporate communications and product marketing. Building on institutional theory, the authors empirically examine whether discourse in CSR reports aligns with commercial strategies. Design/methodology/approach Employing a mixed method approach the authors quantify quotes related to key CSR themes in annual reports and claims on new private label products launched in nine key product categories using information from Mintel’s Global New Products Database. These measures are grouped into eight distinct CSR themes across seven retailers and seven years (2006-2012). Findings Health and safety and environment are the leading themes in both data sets. Animal welfare, community and biotechnology and novel foods take the middle ground with differing use across reports and products. Fair trade, labor and human resources and procurement and purchasing are the least commonly described themes in reports and on products. Retailers focus on different CSR themes in reports and new products, which may be evidence of competitive rather than pre-competitive strategies. Research limitations/implications This research shows that UK food retailers CSR strategies between 2006 and 2012 were more competitive than pre-competitive, which is in line with theory that suggests economic pressures decrease incentives to cooperate. However, this research is limited to innovation data and analysis of CSR reports. A more complete analysis would need to consider sales or consumption data, wider sources of corporate communications and independent measures of social, environmental and economic impact. The authors’ findings caution policy makers to be wary of retailers commitments to voluntary agreement pledges, particularly when the competitive environment and economic conditions are more challenging. Practical implications Firms are increasingly pressured to contribute to social and environmental domestic and international commitments. Business should enhance coordination between CSR offices and commercial divisions to develop more consistent and effective social responsibility programs. Originality/value This is the first attempt to compare the evolution of CSR discourse and marketing strategy over time and across businesses in a key retail market.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Ghareeb M. Almutairi ◽  
Mohammad H. J. Almarri ◽  
Ahmad S. Alsamhan

This paper explores the differences in corporate social responsibility disclosure in the annual reports of Islamic and conventional banks operating in Kuwait. A content analysis of the six banks’ annual reports from 2007 through 2009 was conducted to examine their corporate social responsibility practices in relation to the marketplace, workplace, community, and environment. The results show that both types of banks made certain social disclosures in the years studied. Interestingly, despite Islamic Sharia calls for and emphasizes ethical business behavior, the Islamic banks studied disclosed less corporate social responsibility information as compared with conventional banks. Furthermore, the corporate social responsibility information disclosed by the Islamic banks declined noticeably over time. The conventional banks, however, increased their disclosures during the financial crisis of 2008. By measuring and comparing the volume of corporate social responsibility information disclosed by the three Islamic banks and the three conventional banks in Kuwait the results of this study contribute to the corporate social responsibility literature.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niccolò Nirino ◽  
Alberto Ferraris ◽  
Nicola Miglietta ◽  
Anna Chiara Invernizzi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically test intellectual capital (IC) as a mediator in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance (FP) relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical research was conducted on 345 European firms listed in the STOXX Europe 600 index. To evaluate the mediating effect of IC, we applied the four-step Baron and Kenny model, tested through an ordinary least squares regression analysis.FindingsThe findings highlighted a partial mediation of IC on the CSR–FP relationship, suggesting that the implementation of CSR strategies has a positive effect on the development of firms' IC, which in turn enhances firms' competitive advantage and superior long-term FPs.Originality/valueWe found a new mediator in the CSR–FP relationship and we contribute to a new line of research that aims to study environmental and sustainability aspects strictly interrelated with IC and performances (sustainable intellectual capital).


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-638
Author(s):  
Mohd Shukor Harun ◽  
Khaled Hussainey ◽  
Khairul Ayuni Mohd Kharuddin ◽  
Omar Al Farooque

Purpose This study aims to explore the corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) practices of the Islamic banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries during the period 2010-2014 and examines the determinants of CSRD and its effects on firm value. Design/methodology/approach Based on the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions Governance Standard No. 7 guidelines and using content analysis, the paper develops a comprehensive CSRD index for GCC Islamic banks. The study applies ordinary least squares regression analysis for hypothesis testing and for finding determinants of respective dependent variables. Findings The results show a very low level of CSRD among the sample Islamic banks in GCC countries. When using corporate governance characteristics to examine the determinants of CSRD, this study provides evidence of a significant positive association between board size and CSRD practice in Islamic banks and a significant negative relationship of chief executive officer (CEO) duality with CSRD, as per expectation. For the economic consequences of CSRD, the study documents an inverse performance effect of CSRD while board size, board composition and CEO duality indicate significant positive effects on firm value. Research limitations/implications The relatively small sample size of GCC Islamic banks may limit the application of the findings to other Islamic financial institutions such as Takaful and the Islamic unit trust company. Practical implications The findings of this study initiate the global debate on the need for corporate governance reform in Islamic banks by providing insights on the role played by corporate governance mechanisms in encouraging and enhancing CSRD practices among Islamic banks. The findings also have important implications for investors, managers, regulatory bodies, policymakers and Islamic banks in the GCC countries. Social implications The results of the study do not support the idea that Islamic banks operating on Islamic principles can meet their social responsibilities through promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and by differentiating themselves from non-Islamic banks. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the determinants of CSRD in GCC Islamic banks using comprehensive CSRD and corporate governance variables and, therefore, adds value to the existing CSR literature in banking.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Tsourvakas ◽  
Ioanna Yfantidou

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on employee engagement, motivation and job satisfaction on the staff members of two multinational companies in Greece (Procter & Gamble [P&G] and Unilever). Design/methodology/approach A quantitative methodology in the form of statistical analysis of the results was derived from the responses on an employee engagement questionnaire. Findings Findings show that employees are proud to identify themselves with companies that have a caring image. CSR is also positively linked to employee engagement for both companies. Research limitations/implications The small size of the sample is a limitation because it leaves no room for generalising the findings. Secondly, although some of the hypotheses were backed by the data, he findings are not strong enough, as the reported correlations are too small. Practical implications Practitioners and marketing professionals can benefit from this research by absorbing the fact that employees feel engaged, satisfied and motivated when they play a positive role in the society through their work. As a result, it would be constructive for professionals to plan CSR strategies and involve employees both in planning and execution of those strategies. Originality/value Unlike other studies, the authors tried to examine the link between CSR and employee behaviour amid Greece’s financial difficulties.


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