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Analyst coverage, corporate social responsibility, and firm value: Evidence from China

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  • Hu, May
  • Xiong, Wanfang
  • Xu, Cheng

Abstract

This paper examines how analyst coverage affects firms' engagement in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Using data on Chinese listed companies from 2010 to 2017, we find that (1) analyst coverage significantly enhances CSR engagement; (2) ownership structure, political connection, corporate governance, and media coverage moderate that association; (3) a plausible mechanism is that analyst coverage increases CSR by increasing site visits from institutional investors and improving firms' internal controls. In addition, the interaction between analyst coverage and CSR engagement has an economically sizeable incremental effect on firm value. Overall, our findings indicate that financial analysts play a critical external monitoring and informational role for organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, May & Xiong, Wanfang & Xu, Cheng, 2021. "Analyst coverage, corporate social responsibility, and firm value: Evidence from China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:glofin:v:50:y:2021:i:c:s1044028321000697
    DOI: 10.1016/j.gfj.2021.100671
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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