IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/popmgt/v30y2021i7p2027-2045.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does CSR Reduce Idiosyncratic Risk? Roles of Operational Efficiency and AI Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Guo Li
  • Na Li
  • Suresh P. Sethi

Abstract

In the context of Industry 4.0, corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays an increasingly important role in firm risk management. To mitigate risk and improve operational productivity, artificial intelligence (AI), a key disruptive technology, has been increasingly employed in many industries. In this study, we examine the relationship between CSR and idiosyncratic risk (IR) as moderated by AI innovation and operational efficiency based on data from 1614 firms in China during the period from 2010 to 2017. The empirical results show that CSR can negatively affect IR, while beyond a certain level, it acts in the opposite direction, exhibiting a U‐shaped relationship. In particular, operational efficiency shifts the turning point of the U‐shaped curve to the right, implying that firms with high operational efficiency can obtain a higher optimal benefit by improving their CSR. Furthermore, AI innovation flattens the U‐shaped curve, thereby weakening CSR's positive impact on IR. This result indicates that AI innovation is not always beneficial. As AI innovation can have some substitution effect on CSR, enterprises should focus on either CSR or AI innovation as their main differentiation strategy to maximize the utilization of resources. We further instrument CSR using the social expenditure ratio of the province where the firm is headquartered to address a potential endogeneity concern. Finally, we provide several prominent managerial implications for enterprises, governments, and investors.

Suggested Citation

  • Guo Li & Na Li & Suresh P. Sethi, 2021. "Does CSR Reduce Idiosyncratic Risk? Roles of Operational Efficiency and AI Innovation," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(7), pages 2027-2045, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:popmgt:v:30:y:2021:i:7:p:2027-2045
    DOI: 10.1111/poms.13483
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.13483
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/poms.13483?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chien-Ming Chen & Magali A. Delmas & Marvin B. Lieberman, 2015. "Production frontier methodologies and efficiency as a performance measure in strategic management research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(1), pages 19-36, January.
    2. Clyde Eiríkur Hull & Sandra Rothenberg, 2008. "Firm performance: the interactions of corporate social performance with innovation and industry differentiation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(7), pages 781-789, July.
    3. Yasir Shahab & Collins G Ntim & Farid Ullah, 2019. "The brighter side of being socially responsible: CSR ratings and financial distress among Chinese state and non-state owned firms," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(3), pages 180-186, February.
    4. Amit Goyal & Pedro Santa‐Clara, 2003. "Idiosyncratic Risk Matters!," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(3), pages 975-1007, June.
    5. Nathan Nunn & Nancy Qian, 2014. "US Food Aid and Civil Conflict," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(6), pages 1630-1666, June.
    6. Henri Servaes & Ane Tamayo, 2013. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Firm Value: The Role of Customer Awareness," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(5), pages 1045-1061, May.
    7. Tong Lu & Konduru Sivaramakrishnan & Yanyan Wang & Lisheng Yu, 2021. "The Real Effects of Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(5), pages 1493-1516, May.
    8. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 2015. "A five-factor asset pricing model," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(1), pages 1-22.
    9. Guangming Gong & Xin Huang & Sirui Wu & Haowen Tian & Wanjin Li, 2021. "Punishment by Securities Regulators, Corporate Social Responsibility and the Cost of Debt," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(2), pages 337-356, June.
    10. Manuel Branco & Lúcia Rodrigues, 2006. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Resource-Based Perspectives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 111-132, December.
    11. Ruomeng Cui & Meng Li & Qiang Li, 2020. "Value of High-Quality Logistics: Evidence from a Clash Between SF Express and Alibaba," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(9), pages 3879-3902, September.
    12. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 1993. "Common risk factors in the returns on stocks and bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 3-56, February.
    13. Jianjun Zhang & Christopher Marquis & Kunyuan Qiao, 2016. "Do Political Connections Buffer Firms from or Bind Firms to the Government? A Study of Corporate Charitable Donations of Chinese Firms," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(5), pages 1307-1324, October.
    14. Brian W. Jacobs & Vinod R. Singhal, 2020. "Shareholder Value Effects of the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal on the Automotive Ecosystem," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(10), pages 2230-2251, October.
    15. Xueming Luo & Siliang Tong & Zheng Fang & Zhe Qu, 2019. "Frontiers: Machines vs. Humans: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Disclosure on Customer Purchases," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 38(6), pages 937-947, November.
    16. Dev R. Mishra, 2017. "Post-innovation CSR Performance and Firm Value," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 285-306, January.
    17. Hong Wang, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility in China," Springer Books, in: David Crowther & Shahla Seifi (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility, pages 1017-1040, Springer.
    18. Kai Li & Jiaping Qiu & Jin Wang, 2019. "Technology Conglomeration, Strategic Alliances, and Corporate Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(11), pages 5065-5090, November.
    19. Saurabh Mishra & Sachin Modi, 2013. "Positive and Negative Corporate Social Responsibility, Financial Leverage, and Idiosyncratic Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 431-448, October.
    20. Karl V. Lins & Henri Servaes & Ane Tamayo, 2017. "Social Capital, Trust, and Firm Performance: The Value of Corporate Social Responsibility during the Financial Crisis," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(4), pages 1785-1824, August.
    21. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    22. Landon Kleis & Paul Chwelos & Ronald V. Ramirez & Iain Cockburn, 2012. "Information Technology and Intangible Output: The Impact of IT Investment on Innovation Productivity," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(1), pages 42-59, March.
    23. Carhart, Mark M, 1997. "On Persistence in Mutual Fund Performance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(1), pages 57-82, March.
    24. Chris K. Y. Lo & Christopher S. Tang & Yi Zhou & Andy C. L. Yeung & Di Fan, 2018. "Environmental Incidents and the Market Value of Firms: An Empirical Investigation in the Chinese Context," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 422-439, July.
    25. Michael L. Barnett & Robert M. Salomon, 2012. "Does it pay to be really good? addressing the shape of the relationship between social and financial performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(11), pages 1304-1320, November.
    26. Abagail McWilliams & Donald Siegel, 2000. "Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: correlation or misspecification?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(5), pages 603-609, May.
    27. Shuili Du & C. B. Bhattacharya & Sankar Sen, 2011. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Competitive Advantage: Overcoming the Trust Barrier," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(9), pages 1528-1545, March.
    28. Ramana Nanda & Matthew Rhodes-Kropf, 2017. "Financing Risk and Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(4), pages 901-918, April.
    29. Xin Li & Kun Chen & Sherry X. Sun & Terrance Fung & Huaiqing Wang & Daniel D. Zeng, 2016. "A Commonsense Knowledge-Enabled Textual Analysis Approach for Financial Market Surveillance," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 28(2), pages 278-294, May.
    30. Stephen Brammer & Andrew Millington, 2008. "Does it pay to be different? An analysis of the relationship between corporate social and financial performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(12), pages 1325-1343, December.
    31. Rim Makni & Claude Francoeur & François Bellavance, 2009. "Causality Between Corporate Social Performance and Financial Performance: Evidence from Canadian Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 89(3), pages 409-422, October.
    32. Sancy A. Leachman & Glenn Merlino, 2017. "The final frontier in cancer diagnosis," Nature, Nature, vol. 542(7639), pages 36-38, February.
    33. Caroline Flammer, 2015. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Lead to Superior Financial Performance? A Regression Discontinuity Approach," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 61(11), pages 2549-2568, November.
    34. Chen, Yi-Chun & Hung, Mingyi & Wang, Yongxiang, 2018. "The effect of mandatory CSR disclosure on firm profitability and social externalities: Evidence from China," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 169-190.
    35. Richard F. J. Haans & Constant Pieters & Zi-Lin He, 2016. "Thinking about U: Theorizing and testing U- and inverted U-shaped relationships in strategy research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(7), pages 1177-1195, July.
    36. Zhilong Tian & Rui Wang & Wen Yang, 2011. "Consumer Responses to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 101(2), pages 197-212, June.
    37. Rui Albuquerque & Yrjö Koskinen & Chendi Zhang, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Risk: Theory and Empirical Evidence," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(10), pages 4451-4469, October.
    38. Maobin Wang & Chun Qiu & Dongmin Kong, 2011. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Investor Behaviors, and Stock Market Returns: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 101(1), pages 127-141, June.
    39. L. M. Daphne Yiu & Hugo K. S. Lam & Andy C. L. Yeung & T. C. E. Cheng, 2020. "Enhancing the Financial Returns of R&D Investments through Operations Management," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(7), pages 1658-1678, July.
    40. Hoje Jo & Haejung Na, 2012. "Does CSR Reduce Firm Risk? Evidence from Controversial Industry Sectors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(4), pages 441-456, November.
    41. Melissa A. Schilling, 2015. "Technology Shocks, Technological Collaboration, and Innovation Outcomes," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 668-686, June.
    42. Jordi Surroca & Josep A. Tribó & Sandra Waddock, 2010. "Corporate responsibility and financial performance: the role of intangible resources," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 463-490, May.
    43. Aigner, Dennis & Lovell, C. A. Knox & Schmidt, Peter, 1977. "Formulation and estimation of stochastic frontier production function models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 21-37, July.
    44. Heli Wang & Jaepil Choi & Jiatao Li, 2008. "Too Little or Too Much? Untangling the Relationship Between Corporate Philanthropy and Firm Financial Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 143-159, February.
    45. Amit Goyal & Pedro Santa-Clara, 2003. "Idiosyncratic Risk Matters!," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(3), pages 975-1008, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Sihong & Huang, Xinli & Fan, Di & Su, Yiyi & Li, Yongjian, 2023. "Cluster linkages in the global production networks: Exploring the impacts on the expansion of emerging market multinationals," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    2. Ruixi Long & Shuyang Jia, 2023. "Foreground or background my social responsibility: impact of the trade war on the readability of corporate social responsibility disclosures," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 79-97, March.
    3. Niu, Baozhuang & Yu, Xinhu & Dong, Jian, 2023. "Could AI livestream perform better than KOL in cross-border operations?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    4. Xiaodong Teng & Kun-Shan Wu & Lopin Kuo & Bao-Guang Chang, 2023. "Investigating the double-edged sword effect of environmental, social and governance practices on corporate risk-taking in the high-tech industry," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 511-549, June.
    5. Jing Li & Da Yan, 2021. "Exploration on the Mechanism of the Impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Enterprise Sustainable Development Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Huang, Heshu & Wang, Caiting & Wang, Liukai & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and idiosyncratic risk: Based on corporate governance perspective," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    7. Tsan‐Ming Choi & Subodha Kumar & Xiaohang Yue & Hau‐Ling Chan, 2022. "Disruptive Technologies and Operations Management in the Industry 4.0 Era and Beyond," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(1), pages 9-31, January.
    8. Li, Guo & Xue, Jing & Li, Na & Ivanov, Dmitry, 2022. "Blockchain-supported business model design, supply chain resilience, and firm performance," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    9. Sunil Mithas & Zhi‐Long Chen & Terence J.V. Saldanha & Alysson De Oliveira Silveira, 2022. "How will artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 emerging technologies transform operations management?," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(12), pages 4475-4487, December.
    10. Nitya Singh & Paul Hong, 2023. "CSR, Risk Management Practices, and Performance Outcomes: An Empirical Investigation of Firms in Different Industries," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-20, January.
    11. Wang, Tianyu & Yang, Bo, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility, stakeholders’ governance and idiosyncratic risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    12. Yi Wang & Yafei Yang & Zhaoxiang Qin & Yefei Yang & Jun Li, 2023. "A Literature Review on the Application of Digital Technology in Achieving Green Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    13. Tsionas, Mike G. & Patel, Pankaj C., 2023. "Accounting for intra-industry technological heterogeneity in the measurement of operations efficiency," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    14. Hai Huang & Shengbin Hao & Yu Chen, 2023. "The more the better? Service transition for shaping sustainable development in manufacturing firms and the role of top management team attributes," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3255-3270, November.
    15. Sunil Mithas & Yanzhen Chen & Yatang Lin & Alysson De Oliveira Silveira, 2022. "On the causality and plausibility of treatment effects in operations management research," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(12), pages 4558-4571, December.
    16. Mengyao Xia & Bangzhu Zhu & Helen Huifen Cai, 2023. "Does duration of team governance decrease corporate carbon emission intensity," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1363-1388, May.
    17. Meles, Antonio & Salerno, Dario & Sampagnaro, Gabriele & Verdoliva, Vincenzo & Zhang, Jianing, 2023. "The influence of green innovation on default risk: Evidence from Europe," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 692-710.
    18. Vladimir V. Lebedev & Nelia A. Deberdeeva & Natalya A. Farkova & Larisa S. Korobeinikova, 2022. "Systemic Risk Management of Investments in Innovation Based on CSR," Risks, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-26, April.
    19. Huang, Guoxuan & Zheng, Benrong & Zou, Bipan & Cheng, T.C.E., 2022. "Strategic role of charitable donation in supply chain coordination with consumer prosocial preference," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    20. Liu, Yang & Dong, Jiuyu & Mei, Liang & Shen, Rui, 2023. "Digital innovation and performance of manufacturing firms: An affordance perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    21. Liang, Jing & Yang, Shilei & Xia, Yu, 2023. "The role of financial slack on the relationship between demand uncertainty and operational efficiency," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Encarna Guillamon-Saorin & Magdalena Kapelko & Spiro E. Stefanou, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Operational Inefficiency: A Dynamic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-26, July.
    2. Saurabh Mishra & Sachin Modi, 2013. "Positive and Negative Corporate Social Responsibility, Financial Leverage, and Idiosyncratic Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 431-448, October.
    3. Jacob Brower & Peter A. Dacin, 2020. "An Institutional Theory Approach to the Evolution of the Corporate Social Performance – Corporate Financial Performance Relationship," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(4), pages 805-836, June.
    4. Pasquale Ruggiero & Sebastiano Cupertino, 2018. "CSR Strategic Approach, Financial Resources and Corporate Social Performance: The Mediating Effect of Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Ben Lahouel, Béchir & Ben Zaied, Younes & Managi, Shunsuke & Taleb, Lotfi, 2022. "Re-thinking about U: The relevance of regime-switching model in the relationship between environmental corporate social responsibility and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 498-519.
    6. Megumi Suto & Hitoshi Takehara, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility intensity, management earnings forecast accuracy, and investor trust: Evidence from Japan," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 3047-3059, November.
    7. Wójcik Piotr, 2018. "The business case for corporate social responsibility: A literature overview and integrative framework," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 26(1), pages 121-148, March.
    8. Leon Zolotoy & Don O’Sullivan & Jill Klein, 2019. "Character Cues and Contracting Costs: The Relationship Between Philanthropy and the Cost of Capital," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 497-515, January.
    9. Aneta Havlinova & Jiri Kukacka, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Stock Prices After the Financial Crisis: The Role of Strategic CSR Activities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 223-242, January.
    10. Saridakis, Charalampos & Angelidou, Sofia & Woodside, Arch G., 2023. "How historical and social aspirations reshape the relationship between corporate financial performance and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    11. Nils Engelhardt & Jens Ekkenga & Peter Posch, 2021. "ESG Ratings and Stock Performance during the COVID-19 Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Amal Aouadi & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Do ESG Controversies Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from International Data," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 1027-1047, September.
    13. An-Pin Wei & Chi-Lu Peng & Hao-Chen Huang & Shang-Pao Yeh, 2020. "Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Firm Performance: Does Customer Satisfaction Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
    14. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    15. Tzouvanas, Panagiotis & Kizys, Renatas & Chatziantoniou, Ioannis & Sagitova, Roza, 2020. "Environmental disclosure and idiosyncratic risk in the European manufacturing sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    16. Wang, Kai & Li, Tingting & San, Ziyao & Gao, Hao, 2023. "How does corporate ESG performance affect stock liquidity? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    17. He, Feng & Feng, Yaqian & Hao, Jing, 2023. "Corporate ESG rating and stock market liquidity: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    18. AMBASHI Masahito, 2023. "How are Organizational Architectures of Corporate Social Responsibility Related to Corporate Performance? The case of Japanese listed companies," Discussion papers 23030, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    19. Jongwon Park & Sunyoung Kim & Albert Tsang, 2023. "CEO Personal Hedging and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 199-221, January.
    20. Yongqiang Gao & Jian Wu & Taïeb Hafsi, 2017. "The Inverted U‐Shaped Relationship between Corporate Philanthropy and Spending on Research and Development: A Case of Complementarity and Competition Moderated by Firm Size and Visibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(6), pages 465-477, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:popmgt:v:30:y:2021:i:7:p:2027-2045. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1937-5956 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.