Corporate Social Responsibility Practices and Stakeholders’ Awareness: Case  of Ethiopia

The main aim of this review is to explore the corporate social responsibility practices and stakeholders’ awareness about firms’ CSR in Ethiopia. The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) came into existence to show the responsibilities that the business should take from the shoulders of the government and the NGOs particularly in developing nations. Since the living standard of the society is low in emerging economies, the CSR expected from business firm is much higher than it is used to be in advanced economy. Ethiopia is one of the least developed countries and thus, the involvement of private sector is very crucial since government does not fulfill all needs of the society. In one way or another, businesses are economic entities that have the ability to change corporate social responsibility activities into business opportunities. Several studies suggest that companies may receive external benefits from implementing CSR policies. However, the success of practicing CSRs depends upon the level of stakeholders’ awareness. Specifically, in conducting the survey the reviewer was motivated by the following research questions which constitute the objectives of the article: (1) where do firms in Ethiopia categorized in the Carroll’s 1991 pyramid; and (2) what was the level of awareness of different stakeholders in the country. Therefore, this review explores the CSR practices of firms and the level of stakeholders’ awareness about the concept in Ethiopia. The paper employed qualitative research approach by reviewing 16 research articles which address CSR policies of firms in Ethiopia. The finding shows, the most important stakeholder considered by firms are customers which contribute to profitability. This shows the fact that firms in Ethiopia are in the lower-level of Carroll’s CSR pyramid: economic responsibility. Furthermore, the level of stakeholders’ awareness regarding the firms’ CSR practice in Ethiopia is low. To summarize, corporate social responsibility practice in Ethiopia is at its infancy stage and thus, need much more improvement from both firms and the government.

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Trends in Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting. The Case of Chinese Listed Companies

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158640 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8640

Author(s):

Xiaojuan Wu ◽

Patrycja Hąbek

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Information Disclosure ◽

Listed Companies ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Reporting Practices ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Chinese Listed Companies ◽

The Government ◽

Corporate Social

Compared with Western developed countries, corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation in China started relatively late, but so far, its development has been going on for more than ten years. Therefore, the development process of CSR reporting as a vital tool to reflect the CSR related information of Chinese listed companies is worth studying. It has been asserted in a large amount of literature that the government of a country has an important influence on the development of CSR reporting. Thus, in this paper, we aim to study the trends in CSR reporting practices of Chinese listed companies through statistical analysis methods and then consider the role of the government in it. The results show that the number of CSR reports issued by Chinese listed companies has increased year by year; notably, the number of voluntary CSR disclosure and environmental information disclosure has increased significantly. However, the overall disclosure rate of CSR reports is low and shows no upward trend, the published CSR reports lack third-party certification, and the information disclosure level of most CSR reports is concentrated at a relatively low level. The findings provide some useful references for the future development of Chinese CSR related laws, regulations, and guidelines.

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Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Firm’s Financial Performance: The Tanzanian Perspective

Journal on Innovation and Sustainability RISUS ISSN 2179-3565 ◽

10.24212/2179-3565.2016v7i1p18-27 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Juliana Isanzu ◽

Xu Fengju

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Financial Performance ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Least Developed Countries ◽

Data Set ◽

Firm Financial Performance ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Corporate Social ◽

The Impact

There has been a significant growth of interest in the field of corporate social responsibilityand the debate is still hot. There are however very few studies done in the least developedcountries on the subject matter.The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact ofCSR on Firm Financial Performance in the least developed countries, Tanzania being the countryin question. The aim of this paper is to find out if there is a significant difference in financialperformance of firms that engage in CSR relative to those that do not practice CSR. Independentsample t-test was used to test hypotheses. The data set included randomly selected 101 firmsoperating in Tanzania using accounting based measures of financial performance namely Returnon Asset, Return on Equity.The findings presented revealed that there is a significance differencein financial performance favoring those firms that do Corporate Social Responsibility, implyingthat CSR has a positive influence on firm financial performance. Firms should then engage incorporate social responsibility so as to improve their financial performance and managers shouldnot underestimate the contribution they make by committing their time and resources to makesure their CSR programs are effective in order to achieve the competitive advantage.

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Testing the Effectiveness of CSR Dimensions for Small Business Entrepreneurs

Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity ◽

10.3390/joitmc7010006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 6

Author(s):

Nor Hadi ◽

Udin Udin

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Small Business ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Low Cost ◽

Mining Area ◽

Production Equipment ◽

Loan Terms ◽

The Government ◽

Contract Implementation ◽

Corporate Social

This article is intended to empirically test the effectiveness of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) dimension of assistance to Small Business Entrepreneurs (SMEs) under companies’ guidance of Semen Indonesia in Central and East Java. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation for Small Business Entrepreneurs (SMEs), besides as a social contract implementation, is also an effort to increase legitimacy. This study is essential to obtain effective and relevant CSR dimensions recommended for the SME empowering program. The study was conducted at SMEs domiciled around the mining area and the cement factory. Out of 250 SMEs, 92 SMEs were involved in this study. The research data was primary, including respondents’ opinions, where the data were taken using survey and interview procedures. Data analysis using statistics was a factorial analysis. The results showed that of the eight programs included in CSR in the field of assistance for empowering SMEs, two were effective for empowering SMEs: (1) low-cost revolving funds and (2) production equipment assistance for SMEs. Meanwhile, six other CSR programs showed ineffectiveness: (1) mentoring, (2) marketing, (3) ease of procedure and relief of loan terms, (4) education and training, (5) accessibility of obtaining loans, and (6) the involvement of parties in the implementation of CSR. It indicated that the six CSR programs were not effective in helping to build image and legitimacy. The results of the research make an important contribution to the government and corporations and show that the construction of CSR programs must give attention to the real conditions and needs of SMEs in order to achieve effectiveness in solving problems by SMEs. Especially for the government, regulations are needed that can systemically encourage companies to implement CSR. This research still has limitations, therefore further research should be developed, especially in the area of empirical testing related to the contextual dimensions of CSR that are relevant to assisted stakeholders. Development-based research should be considered.

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Corporate Profit Tax and Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Under Foreign Acquisition

The B E Journal of Theoretical Economics ◽

10.1515/bejte-2020-0028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Lili Xu ◽

Sang-Ho Lee

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Nash Equilibrium ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Corporate Tax ◽

Government Grants ◽

Corporate Profit ◽

Foreign Acquisition ◽

Strategic Csr ◽

The Government ◽

Corporate Social

Abstract This study investigates government public policies facing competing firms’ strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and finds that the choice of CSR crucially depends on corporate profit tax. We demonstrate that strategic CSR decreases while social welfare increases with corporate tax. When the government grants uniform output subsidies, we show that bilateral CSR leads to a lower CSR level than under unilateral CSR but bilateral CSR is always beneficial to society. However, when the government grants discriminatory output subsidies which yield different levels of unilateral CSR, we show that domestic CSR leads to a lower CSR level than under foreign CSR. In an endogenous CSR choice game, domestic CSR (no CSR) is a Nash equilibrium when corporate tax is low (high) under the uniform subsidy, while foreign CSR could be a Nash equilibrium when corporate tax is low under the discriminatory subsidy.

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Impact of strategic management, corporate social responsibility on firm performance in the post mandate period: evidence from India

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

10.1186/s40991-020-00052-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nayan Mitra

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Firm Performance ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Strategic Management ◽

Emerging Economies ◽

Brand Building ◽

The Government ◽

To Come ◽

Key Aspects ◽

Corporate Social

AbstractCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is like a chameleon, that changes its colour according to the context it is in. In the developed economy, it takes the form of sustainability and/ or philanthropy, whereas, in emerging economies, it speaks the language of religious, political and/ or mandated CSR. India, in recent times came into the limelight with its mandated CSR policy that was incorporated into its Companies Act 2013, which became operational from the financial year 2014 - 2015. Mandated CSR is thus a new area of study that is based on the philosophy that ‘CSR should contribute to the national agenda in emerging economies,’ under some statutory guidelines as laid down by the Government.But, business houses, do look for maximising its profit. Profit can be financial and/ or non-financial. If not money, then at least the effort must be compensated with reputation, image, that helps in brand building! And, to have this as an objective, their efforts should be strategic! But, does all strategies work? With these questions and conceptual thinking, this empirical research aims to identify the key aspects of Strategic Management, CSR and Firm Performance and establish relationship between them; apart from developing a valid and reliable scale to do so. This is indeed one of the first researches and documentations done among the large Indian firms in India immediately in the post mandate period and thus forms a base for understanding the CSR dynamics in the years to come.

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State-Mediated Globalization Processes and the Adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China

Management and Organization Review ◽

10.1017/mor.2016.55 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 167-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Christopher Marquis ◽

Juelin Yin ◽

Dongning Yang

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Political Legitimacy ◽

Chinese Government ◽

Political Processes ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting ◽

Global Norms ◽

The Government ◽

Corporate Social

ABSTRACTDespite the prevalence of global diffusion, little is known about the processes by which international practices are adopted and adapted within organizations around the world. Through our qualitative research on the introduction of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting at two leading Chinese companies, we identify a unique set of political mechanisms that we labelstate-mediated globalization, whereby powerful nation-state actors influence the ways in which corporations adopt and adapt global norms and practices. We find that businesses’ needs for political legitimacy from a key stakeholder, in this case the government, leads them to deviate systematically from the global practice in bothformandcontent. These intentional practice adaptations are then legitimized by the government to createinternationalization toolsandlocalized standardsto aid adoption by other organizations. Our findings illustrate previously unidentified mechanisms by which powerful stakeholders such as the Chinese government may mediate, and thereby direct, the ways in which corporations adopt and adapt global CSR practices. Contributions to understanding the political processes of institutional translation in the context of globalization are discussed.

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Internal auditing and assurance of corporate social responsibility reports and disclosures: perspectives of some internal auditors in Ghana

Social Responsibility Journal ◽

10.1108/srj-09-2015-0134 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 706-718 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Samuel Nana Yaw Simpson ◽

Francis Aboagye-Otchere ◽

Ruby Lovi

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Internal Audit ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Research Approach ◽

Limited Information ◽

Content Type ◽

Internal Auditors ◽

Changing Roles ◽

Corporate Social

Purpose This study aims to examine the nature and extent of internal auditors’ (IAs) involvement in corporate social responsibility (CSR) assurance. It also ascertains the capacity building requirements to legitimise the role of IAs as a credible form of providing CSR assurance. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach was adopted, where data were collected through semi-structured interview of IAs of companies in Ghana that produce CSR reports. Findings Findings suggest that companies appreciate the fact that the internal audit function could provide independent assurance on CSR reports. However, there is limited information on the nature and scope of the assurance procedures. Moreover, most IAs seem to lack the requisite knowledge and skills needed to effectively carry out CSR assurance engagements. These evidences suggest a relatively low level of reliance being placed on CSR assurance services provided internally. Research limitations/implications Findings are purely based on the perceptions of IAs. Future studies may include the views of those who appoint IAs (i.e. management). Practical implications Findings engender discussions on the need for IAs and regulators of IAs (e.g. the Institute of Internal Auditors), particularly those in developing countries to begin to conscientise practitioners on the changing roles of the IA in the areas of CSR and CSR assurance. Originality/value This study is one of the very few studies on CSR assurance from the perspective of IAs and it also based on evidence from an African context. Also, the study provides evidence on the need for a deliberate effort to equip internal audit practitioners to provide at least some minimal assurance on CSR disclosures and reports.

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Mandatory corporate social responsibility in India: reporting reality, issues and way forward

Meditari Accountancy Research ◽

10.1108/medar-11-2020-1063 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Pawan Taneja ◽

Ameeta Jain ◽

Mahesh Joshi ◽

Monika Kansal

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Mandatory Reporting ◽

Content Type ◽

Csr Reporting ◽

Reporting Requirements ◽

Expectation Gap ◽

The Government ◽

Corporate Social ◽

The Impact

Purpose Since 2013, the Indian Companies Act Section 135 has mandated corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting by Indian central public sector enterprises (CPSEs). CSR reporting is regulated by multiple Government of India ministerial agencies, each requiring different formats and often different data. This study aims to understand the impact of these multiple regulatory bodies on CSR reporting by Indian CPSEs; evaluate the expectation gap between regulators and the regulated; and investigate the compliance burden on CPSEs. Design/methodology/approach An interview-based approach was adopted to evaluate the perspectives of both regulators and regulated CPSEs on the impact of the new regulations on CSR reporting quality. The authors use the lens of institutional theory to analyse the findings. Findings Driven by coercive institutional pressures, CPSEs are overburdened with myriad reporting requirements, which significantly negatively impact CPSEs’ financial and human resources and the quality of CSR activity and reports. It is difficult for CPSEs to assess the actual impact of their CSR activities due to overlapping with activities of the government/other institutions. The perceptions of regulators and the regulated are divergent: the regulators expect CPSEs to select more impactful CSR projects to comply with mandatory reporting requirements. Originality/value The findings of this study emphasise the need for meaningful dialogue between regulators and the regulated to reduce the expectation gap and establish a single regulatory authority that will ensure that the letter and spirit of the law are followed in practice and not just according to a tick-box approach.

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