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Does empathy induce higher corporate prosocial behavior? Evidence from corporate giving

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  • Chourou, Lamia
  • Elmawazini, Khaled
  • Hossain, Ashrafee

Abstract

This study examines whether and how cross-country differences in trait empathy can explain differences in corporate social performance. Using an international sample of 18,433 firm-year observations across 46 countries, we find that corporate giving is positively related to the degree of empathy at the country level. Our results are robust to a battery of sensitivity analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Chourou, Lamia & Elmawazini, Khaled & Hossain, Ashrafee, 2022. "Does empathy induce higher corporate prosocial behavior? Evidence from corporate giving," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:50:y:2022:i:c:s154461232200424x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103219
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yanghee Kim & Chuljin Park & Yeonji Seo & Taewoo Roh, 2026. "Sensegiving, ESG, and Firm Value: Mitigating Interpretive Uncertainty in South Korea," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 4240-4255, March.
    2. Qu, Shawn, 2024. "Litigation risk and corporate philanthropy: A managerial perspective analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).

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    JEL classification:

    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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