IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-03001-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The effects of heterogeneous CSR on corporate stock performance: evidence from COVID-19 pandemic in China

Author

Listed:
  • Yunhe Li

    (East China Normal University)

  • Xinyi Shen

    (East China Normal University)

  • Fang Zhang

    (Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance)

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) could be an effective risk-alleviating tool for companies. However, an important issue is whether CSR plays a risk-alleviating role in large negative shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the impact of corporate social responsibility on stock performance in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the differing effects of strategic and responsive CSR. By analysing daily data on newly confirmed COVID-19 cases and the stock performance of A-share listed companies during the lockdown period in 2020, we find that CSR can significantly mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic on stock returns and recovery. Specifically, responsive CSR has a significant short-term moderating effect, whereas strategic CSR has a significant long-term moderating effect. The moderating effects of CSR are more pronounced among non-state-owned firms, firms with lower financial leverage, and large companies. These findings suggest that companies can reduce short- and long-term risks by strategically using responsive and strategic CSR in response to negative shocks in global economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunhe Li & Xinyi Shen & Fang Zhang, 2024. "The effects of heterogeneous CSR on corporate stock performance: evidence from COVID-19 pandemic in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03001-9
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03001-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-03001-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-03001-9?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sol Kim & Geul Lee & Hyoung‐Goo Kang, 2021. "Risk management and corporate social responsibility," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1), pages 202-230, January.
    2. Liang, Hao & Renneboog, Luc, 2017. "On the foundations of corporate social responsibility," Other publications TiSEM c6821f0a-e7f0-41da-adba-1, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    3. Roland Bénabou & Jean Tirole, 2010. "Individual and Corporate Social Responsibility," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 77(305), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Boubaker, Sabri & Liu, Zhenya & Zhan, Yaosong, 2022. "Customer relationships, corporate social responsibility, and stock price reaction: Lessons from China during health crisis times," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    5. Yung-Ming Shiu & Shou-Lin Yang, 2017. "Does engagement in corporate social responsibility provide strategic insurance-like effects?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(2), pages 455-470, February.
    6. Ding, Wenzhi & Levine, Ross & Lin, Chen & Xie, Wensi, 2021. "Corporate immunity to the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 802-830.
    7. Yi, Yuyang & Zhang, Zongyi & Yan, Youliang, 2021. "Kindness is rewarded! The impact of corporate social responsibility on Chinese market reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    8. Robert G. Eccles & Ioannis Ioannou & George Serafeim, 2012. "The Impact of Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Processes and Performance," NBER Working Papers 17950, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Kim, Yongtae & Li, Haidan & Li, Siqi, 2014. "Corporate social responsibility and stock price crash risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1-13.
    10. Schell, Daniel & Wang, Mei & Huynh, Toan Luu Duc, 2020. "This time is indeed different: A study on global market reactions to public health crisis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    11. Amélie Bohas & Nicolas Poussing, 2016. "An empirical exploration of the role of strategic and responsive corporate social responsibility in the adoption of different Green IT strategies," Post-Print hal-01731109, HAL.
    12. Rudra Rameshwar & Raiswa Saha & Shamindra Nath Sanyal, 2020. "Strategic corporate social responsibility, capabilities, and opportunities: Empirical substantiation and futuristic implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2816-2830, November.
    13. Giovanna Michelon & Giacomo Boesso & Kamalesh Kumar, 2013. "Examining the Link between Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility and Company Performance: An Analysis of the Best Corporate Citizens," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 81-94, March.
    14. Hui-Ju Tsai & Yangru Wu, 2022. "Changes in Corporate Social Responsibility and Stock Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 735-755, July.
    15. Fabrizio Ferriani & Filippo Natoli, 2021. "ESG risks in times of Covid-19," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(18), pages 1537-1541, October.
    16. Carolina Serrano Archimi & Emmanuelle Reynaud & Hina Mahboob Yasin & Zeeshan Ahmed Bhatti, 2018. "How Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility Affects Employee Cynicism: The Mediating Role of Organizational Trust," Post-Print hal-03510847, HAL.
    17. Piotr Ratajczak & Dawid Szutowski, 2016. "Exploring the relationship between CSR and innovation," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(2), pages 295-318, May.
    18. Ioannis Oikonomou & Chris Brooks & Stephen Pavelin, 2012. "The Impact of Corporate Social Performance on Financial Risk and Utility: A Longitudinal Analysis," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 41(2), pages 483-515, June.
    19. Yang, Shou-Lin & Chang, Ariana & Chen, Yen-Hsun & Shiu, Yung-Ming, 2019. "Can country trade flows benefit from improved corporate social responsibility ratings?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 192-201.
    20. Kwang Hwa Jeong & Seok Woo Jeong & Woo Jae Lee & Seong Ho Bae, 2018. "Permanency of CSR Activities and Firm Value," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 207-223, September.
    21. Changkyu Choi & Hojin Jung, 2022. "COVID-19’s impacts on the Korean stock market," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(11), pages 974-978, June.
    22. Donadelli, Michael & Kizys, Renatas & Riedel, Max, 2017. "Dangerous infectious diseases: Bad news for Main Street, good news for Wall Street?," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 84-103.
    23. Chollet, Pierre & Sandwidi, Blaise W., 2018. "CSR engagement and financial risk: A virtuous circle? International evidence," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 65-81.
    24. Yadong Luo, 2006. "Political behavior, social responsibility, and perceived corruption: a structuration perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(6), pages 747-766, November.
    25. 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.
    26. Huayun Zhai & Mingsheng Xiao & Kam C. Chan & Qingzhuo Liu, 2022. "Physical proximity, corporate social responsibility, and the impact of negative investor sentiment on stock returns: Evidence from COVID‐19 in China," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 22(2), pages 308-314, June.
    27. Duygu Turker, 2009. "Measuring Corporate Social Responsibility: A Scale Development Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(4), pages 411-427, April.
    28. Mariusz Karwowski & Monika Raulinajtys‐Grzybek, 2021. "The application of corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions for mitigation of environmental, social, corporate governance (ESG) and reputational risk in integrated reports," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(4), pages 1270-1284, July.
    29. Hao Liang & Luc Renneboog, 2017. "On the Foundations of Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(2), pages 853-910, April.
    30. Carolina Serrano Archimi & Emmanuelle Reynaud & Hina Mahboob Yasin & Zeeshan Ahmed Bhatti, 2018. "How Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility Affects Employee Cynicism: The Mediating Role of Organizational Trust," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 907-921, September.
    31. Pierre Chollet & Blaise Sandwidi, 2018. "CSR engagement and financial risk: A virtuous circle? International evidence," Post-Print hal-02048716, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Gu, Leilei & Liu, Zhongyang & Xu, Danyang, 2023. "The risk-mitigating role of corporate social responsibility in Chinese listed heavy-polluting companies: An extreme event experience perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    2. Champagne, Claudia & Coggins, Frank & Sodjahin, Amos, 2022. "Can extra-financial ratings serve as an indicator of ESG risk?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Shakil, Mohammad Hassan, 2021. "Environmental, social and governance performance and financial risk: Moderating role of ESG controversies and board gender diversity," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    4. Haozhe Han, 2023. "Does increasing the QFII quota promote Chinese institutional investors to drive ESG?," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(6), pages 1627-1643, November.
    5. Breuer, Wolfgang & Müller, Torbjörn & Rosenbach, David & Salzmann, Astrid, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility, investor protection, and cost of equity: A cross-country comparison," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 34-55.
    6. Malik, Ihtisham A. & Chowdhury, Hasibul & Alam, Md Samsul, 2023. "Equity market response to natural disasters: Does firm's corporate social responsibility make difference?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Ehsan Poursoleyman & Gholamreza Mansourfar & Mohammad Kabir Hassan & Saeid Homayoun, 2024. "Did Corporate Social Responsibility Vaccinate Corporations Against COVID-19?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 525-551, January.
    9. Farah, Tazrina & Li, Jialong & Li, Zhicheng & Shamsuddin, Abul, 2021. "The non-linear effect of CSR on firms’ systematic risk: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    10. Wajih Abbassi & Sabri Boubaker & Wael Louhichi, 2024. "Why do corporate social responsibility‐oriented companies opt for bond debt? Evidence from crisis periods," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 1534-1568, April.
    11. Lu, Jun & Li, Wengui & Huang, Wei, 2024. "Corporate social responsibility and stock resilience to COVID-19: A contract theory perspective," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 12-29.
    12. Imen Khanchel & Naima Lassoued & Rym Gargoury, 2023. "CSR and firm value: is CSR valuable during the COVID 19 crisis in the French market?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(2), pages 575-601, June.
    13. Ucar, Erdem & Staer, Arsenio, 2020. "Local corruption and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 266-282.
    14. Gillan, Stuart L. & Koch, Andrew & Starks, Laura T., 2021. "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    15. Ved Dilip Beloskar & S. V. D. Nageswara Rao, 2023. "Did ESG Save the Day? Evidence From India During the COVID-19 Crisis," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 30(1), pages 73-107, March.
    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. Fariha Jahan & Jungmu Kim, 2023. "Does the Shield Effect of CSR Work in Crises? Evidence in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, June.
    18. Shih, Yi-Cheng & Wang, Yao & Zhong, Rui & Ma, Yi-Ming, 2021. "Corporate environmental responsibility and default risk: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    19. Ramírez-Orellana, Alicia & Martínez-Victoria, MCarmen & García-Amate, Antonio & Rojo-Ramírez, Alfonso A., 2023. "Is the corporate financial strategy in the oil and gas sector affected by ESG dimensions?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    20. Yi, Yuyang & Zhang, Zongyi & Xiang, Cheng, 2022. "The value of CSR during the COVID-19 crisis: Evidence from Chinese firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

    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:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-03001-9. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    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.