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Business Tax reform and CSR engagement: Evidence from China

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  • Kong, Dongmin
  • Xiong, Mengxu
  • Qin, Ni

Abstract

This study investigates the impacts of tax incentives on firms' CSR engagement. Using the staggered Business Tax reform in China as exogenous shocks, our difference-in-differences estimation shows that tax incentives facilitate firms' CSR disclosure, and a plausible mechanism is the released financial burden. The result remains valid under a battery of robustness checks and is more pronounced for state-owned firms, firms with tighter political connections, firms with transparent information and firms locate in areas with higher degree of social trust. The study provides clear policy implications by elaborating on the favorable impacts of tax incentives on firms' CSR performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Kong, Dongmin & Xiong, Mengxu & Qin, Ni, 2022. "Business Tax reform and CSR engagement: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:82:y:2022:i:c:s1057521922001417
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102178
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    2. Xie, Xin & Zhang, Wenjie, 2023. "Impacts of CSR on the efficiency of Chinese enterprises' Outward FDI," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    3. Florackis, Chris & Fu, Xi & Wang, Jingjing, 2023. "Political connections, environmental violations and punishment: Evidence from heavily polluting firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Tang, Meili & Wang, Yu, 2022. "Tax incentives and corporate social responsibility: The role of cash savings from accelerated depreciation policy," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Deng, Youyi & Dong, Kangyin & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad & Xue, Jinjun, 2023. "How does environmental regulation affect the double dividend for energy firms? Evidence from China’s EPT policy," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 807-820.
    6. Zeng, Jing & Chan, Kam C., 2023. "The tax incentives and corporate cash holdings: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment of an accelerated depreciation tax policy for fixed assets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).

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