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Who benefits from mandatory CSR? Evidence from the Indian Companies Act 2013

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  • Aswani, Jitendra
  • Chidambaran, N.K.
  • Hasan, Iftekhar

Abstract

We examine the value impact of mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending required by the Indian Companies Act of 2013 for large and profitable Indian firms. We find that the external mandate is value decreasing, even after controlling for prior voluntary CSR activity by firms affected by the mandate. We also find that there is systematic crosssectional variation across firms. Firms that are profitable and firms in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector that voluntarily engaged in CSR, benefit from CSR. Industrial firms and firms with high capital expenditures are negatively impacted by the mandate. We conclude that a one-size-fits-all approach to CSR is sub-optimal and value decreasing.

Suggested Citation

  • Aswani, Jitendra & Chidambaran, N.K. & Hasan, Iftekhar, 2021. "Who benefits from mandatory CSR? Evidence from the Indian Companies Act 2013," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:46:y:2021:i:c:s1566014120300947
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2020.100753
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Prasad, Krishna & Kumar, Satish & Devji, Shridev & Lim, Weng Marc & Prabhu, Nandan & Moodbidri, Sudhir, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility and cost of capital: The moderating role of policy intervention," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Xu, Lili & Zhao, Qinghong & Chen, Yuyan & Lee, Sang-Ho, 2023. "Post privatization of high-speed rail with corporate social responsibility (CSR) in an international transportation market: Mandatory CSR versus voluntary CSR," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    3. Bhaskar, Ratikant & Bansal, Shashank & Abbassi, Wajih & Pandey, Dharen Kumar, 2023. "CEO compensation and CSR: Economic implications and policy recommendations," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 232-256.
    4. Fairouz Mustafa & Suman Lodh & Monomita Nandy & Vikas Kumar, 2022. "Coupling of cryptocurrency trading with the sustainable environmental goals: Is it on the cards?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1152-1168, March.
    5. Aruna Jha & Madhavi Kapoor & Nidhi, 2023. "Can One Size Fit All: A Multi-group Analysis of Indian Corporates," Millennial Asia, , vol. 14(4), pages 535-559, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate social responsibility; CAR; Cross-sectional analysis; Diff-in-diff; Indian Companies Act 2013;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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