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Corporate philanthropy and corporate misconduct: Evidence from China

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  • Chen, Jun
  • Dong, Wang
  • Tong, Yixing
  • Zhang, Feida

Abstract

This paper examines the association between corporate philanthropy and corporate misconduct. Using panel data from China, we find a negative relationship between philanthropic engagement and the likelihood of subsequent corporate misconduct. In addition, we find that the favorable effect of philanthropy on corporate misconduct is stronger when a company's philanthropic giving is more sustained, when a company is located in a region with a stronger external institutional environment, and when a company is not a state-owned enterprise. Our results suggest that companies engaging in philanthropy have incentives to enhance their reputations and build their relationships with stakeholders. Our research extends the extant literature on corporate misconduct by identifying a new antecedent relating to corporate philanthropy and provides valuable insights for practitioners in terms of how to assess and predict the link between corporate philanthropy and the likelihood of its subsequent misconduct.

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  • Chen, Jun & Dong, Wang & Tong, Yixing & Zhang, Feida, 2020. "Corporate philanthropy and corporate misconduct: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 17-31.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:65:y:2020:i:c:p:17-31
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2019.09.002
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    3. Angela Kamidi & Junhua Guo, 2023. "The impact of political turnover on corporate misconduct and philanthropy: evidence from China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1369-1393, September.
    4. Zhi Su & Bo Yi & Linan Wang, 2022. "Is corporate philanthropy a pretext for executives' excess perk consumption? Evidence from China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 4010-4027, December.

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