CSR structures : evidence, drivers and firm value implications
Abstract
This paper investigates the corporate social responsibility (CSR) structures of U.S. listed firms. We find evidence of a general tendency towards CSR specialization with almost three-quarters (73.91%) of these firms focusing on a single CSR dimension. The degree of specialization varies across industries and the single CSR dimension focused on also varies for industries with similar degrees of specialization. We find that firms with higher exposures to CSR concerns, international activities, larger size and higher financial slack tend to diversify across multiple CSR dimensions. More importantly, we find evidence that diversified CSR structures positively affect a firm’s value relative to a control group before and during the 2008 financial crisis. Our findings have important implications for corporate and portfolio managers, investors and policy makers.
Citation
Bouslah , K , Hmaittane , A , Kryzanowski , L & M’Zali , B 2023 , ' CSR structures : evidence, drivers and firm value implications ' , Journal of Business Ethics , vol. 185 , pp. 115-145 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-022-05219-6
Publication
Journal of Business Ethics
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0167-4544Type
Journal article
Description
Funding: L. Kryzanowski thanks the Senior Concordia University Research Chair in Finance and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC, Grant #435-2018-048) for providing financial support.Collections
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