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Corporate social responsibility and degrees of operating and financial leverage

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  • Maretno Agus Harjoto

    (Pepperdine University)

Abstract

We examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firms’ degrees of operating (DOL) and financial leverage (DFL). Combining the enlightened value maximizing and capital structure theories, we hypothesize that CSR as firms’ strategic choice to internalize the cost from implicit contracts between the firms and their non-investing stakeholders affects firms’ operating and financial leverage. We find empirical evidence that CSR and CSR strengths are positively (negatively) related to firms’ DOL (DFL). CSR concerns are positively related firms’ DOL and DFL. We also document that CSR is positively related to firms’ operating cost and we find evidence that CSR acts as a substitute for corporate debt tax shield when firms’ financial leverage is low.

Suggested Citation

  • Maretno Agus Harjoto, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility and degrees of operating and financial leverage," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 487-513, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:rqfnac:v:49:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11156-016-0598-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11156-016-0598-5
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    5. Wafa Sahraoui & Rimvie Enoc Kabore, 2021. "The relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and performance: the moderating effect of financial leverage," Working Papers hal-03503462, HAL.
    6. Carlos Lassala & Andreea Apetrei & Juan Sapena, 2017. "Sustainability Matter and Financial Performance of Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-16, August.
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    10. Alfredo Grau & Araceli Reig, 2021. "Operating leverage and profitability of SMEs: agri-food industry in Europe," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 221-242, June.
    11. Sheikh, Shahbaz, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility and firm leverage: The impact of market competition," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 496-510.
    12. Cao, Qingzi & Fang, Ming & Pan, Yuying, 2022. "Minority shareholders protection and corporate financial leverage: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    13. Ali Meftah Gerged & Khaldoon Albitar & Lara Al‐Haddad, 2023. "Corporate environmental disclosure and earnings management—The moderating role of corporate governance structures," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 2789-2810, July.
    14. Rind, Asad Ali & Abbassi, Wajih & Allaya, Manel & Hammouda, Amira, 2022. "Local peers and firm misconduct: The role of sustainability and competition," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    15. Maretno A. Harjoto & Dongshin Kim & Indrarini Laksmana & Richard C. Walton, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility and stock split," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 575-600, August.
    16. Garanina, Tatiana & Kim, Oksana, 2023. "The relationship between CSR disclosure and accounting conservatism: The role of state ownership," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
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    18. David Gilchrist & Jing Yu & Rui Zhong, 2021. "The Limits of Green Finance: A Survey of Literature in the Context of Green Bonds and Green Loans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, January.
    19. Hossain, Ashrafee Tanvir & Kryzanowski, Lawrence, 2021. "Political corruption and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    20. Jonathan M. Karpoff, 2021. "On a stakeholder model of corporate governance," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 50(2), pages 321-343, June.
    21. Thomas A. Worae & Collins C. Ngwakwe, 2018. "Accounting and Market Value Implications of Business Environmental Initiative: The Case of JSE’s SRI Firms," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 14(4), pages 88-98, AUGUST.
    22. Hongmin Chun & Maretno Harjoto & Hakjoon Song, 2023. "Economic policy uncertainty and corporate donation: evidence from private firms in Korea," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 909-939, April.
    23. Aiping Wang & Bin Dou & Xingfang Guo & Haifeng Hu, 2023. "Economic Policy Uncertainty: Does It Truly Matter?—Evidence from Corporate Fraudulent Behaviors in Chinese Capital Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-31, March.
    24. Jannik Gerwanski, 2020. "Does it pay off? Integrated reporting and cost of debt: European evidence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2299-2319, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Operating leverage; Financial leverage; Corporate social responsibility; Enlightened value maximizing; Capital structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • D20 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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