IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/intman/v31y2025i6s1075425325000869.html

Profitability and CSR: Inconsistent performance feedback and OFDI location choices for firms in emerging countries

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng, Cong
  • Chen, Linyi

Abstract

This study applies the multiple performance feedback model to explain how performance-aspiration gaps relative to profitability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals influence emerging economy firms' (EEFs) outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) location choices. A sample of Chinese listed firms is used to understand the relationship between firms' inconsistent performance feedback and their OFDI location choices in developed and developing countries. We find that when performance on a profitability goal is high, and performance on a CSR goal is low, it increases EEFs' OFDI in developed countries; when performance on a profitability goal is low, and performance on a CSR goal is high, it increases EEFs' OFDI in developing countries. Our results further show that these effects are more significant in EEFs operating in high-pollution industries. Our theory and findings highlight the importance of performance feedback regarding multiple goals in regulating the key locus of search choices and extend research on EEFs' internationalization and multiple performance feedback.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Cong & Chen, Linyi, 2025. "Profitability and CSR: Inconsistent performance feedback and OFDI location choices for firms in emerging countries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intman:v:31:y:2025:i:6:s1075425325000869
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intman.2025.101308
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1075425325000869
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.intman.2025.101308?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vikrant Shirodkar & Eshani Beddewela & Ulf Henning Richter, 2018. "Firm-Level Determinants of Political CSR in Emerging Economies: Evidence from India," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 673-688, March.
    2. Jun Xia & Xufei Ma & Jane W. Lu & Daphne W. Yiu, 2014. "Outward foreign direct investment by emerging market firms: A resource dependence logic," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(9), pages 1343-1363, September.
    3. Srilata Zaheer, 2025. "The sustainability of MNE sustainability initiatives," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 56(4), pages 491-500, June.
    4. Vujanović, Nina & Radošević, Slavo & Stojčić, Nebojša & Hisarciklilar, Mehtap & Hashi, Iraj, 2022. "FDI spillover effects on innovation activities of knowledge using and knowledge creating firms: Evidence from an emerging economy," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    5. Wang, Juntian & Chen, Jingwei & Li, Rongrong, 2023. "Outward foreign direct investment and urban green productivity: Promote or inhibit?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 516-530.
    6. Songcui Hu & Richard A. Bettis, 2018. "Multiple Organization Goals with Feedback from Shared Technological Task Environments," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(5), pages 873-889, October.
    7. Xiao, Shufeng & Tian, Xiaocong, 2023. "Performance feedback and location choice of foreign direct investment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    8. Donnelly, Róisín & Manolova, Tatiana S., 2020. "Foreign location decisions through an institutional lens: A systematic review and future research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    9. Sheila Puffer & Daniel McCarthy & Mike Peng, 2013. "Managing favors in a global economy," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 321-326, June.
    10. Jing-Lin Duanmu, 2014. "State-owned MNCs and host country expropriation risk: The role of home state soft power and economic gunboat diplomacy," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(8), pages 1044-1060, October.
    11. Shi, Xing & Zeng, Yujie & Wu, Yanrui & Wang, Shuai, 2023. "Outward foreign direct investment and green innovation in Chinese multinational companies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    12. Luis Filipe Lages & Sandy D Jap & David A Griffith, 2008. "The role of past performance in export ventures: a short-term reactive approach," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(2), pages 304-325, March.
    13. John Joseph & Vibha Gaba, 2015. "The fog of feedback: Ambiguity and firm responses to multiple aspiration levels," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(13), pages 1960-1978, December.
    14. Luo, Yadong & Zhang, Huan, 2016. "Emerging Market MNEs: Qualitative Review and Theoretical Directions," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 333-350.
    15. Jiang, Guoliang Frank & Holburn, Guy L.F., 2018. "Organizational performance feedback effects and international expansion," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 48-58.
    16. Lin, Yongjia & Fu, Xiaoqing & Fu, Xiaolan, 2021. "Varieties in state capitalism and corporate innovation: Evidence from an emerging economy," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    17. Yuan-Shuh Lii & Monle Lee, 2012. "Doing Right Leads to Doing Well: When the Type of CSR and Reputation Interact to Affect Consumer Evaluations of the Firm," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 105(1), pages 69-81, January.
    18. Najah Attig & Narjess Boubakri & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami, 2016. "Firm Internationalization and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(2), pages 171-197, March.
    19. Vibha Gaba & Henrich R. Greve, 2019. "Safe or Profitable? The Pursuit of Conflicting Goals," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(4), pages 647-667, July.
    20. Zeng, Ka & Eastin, Joshua, 2012. "Do Developing Countries Invest Up? The Environmental Effects of Foreign Direct Investment from Less-Developed Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(11), pages 2221-2233.
    21. Lin, Wen-Ting, 2014. "How do managers decide on internationalization processes? The role of organizational slack and performance feedback," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 396-408.
    22. Majid Abdi & Preet S. Aulakh, 2018. "Internationalization and performance: Degree, duration, and scale of operations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(7), pages 832-857, September.
    23. Vibha Gaba & John Joseph, 2013. "Corporate Structure and Performance Feedback: Aspirations and Adaptation in M-Form Firms," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(4), pages 1102-1119, August.
    24. Braithwaite, John, 2006. "Responsive regulation and developing economies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 884-898, May.
    25. Róisín Donnelly & Saptarshi Purkayastha & Tatiana S. Manolova & Linda F. Edelman, 2024. "Institutional distance, slack resources, and foreign market entry," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 55(2), pages 194-211, March.
    26. Audia, Pino G. & Brion, Sebastien, 2007. "Reluctant to change: Self-enhancing responses to diverging performance measures," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 102(2), pages 255-269, March.
    27. Yuehua Xu & Guangtao Zeng, 2021. "Corporate social performance aspiration and its effects," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 1181-1207, December.
    28. Chiung-Hui Tseng & Patriya Tansuhaj & William Hallagan & James McCullough, 2007. "Effects of firm resources on growth in multinationality," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(6), pages 961-974, November.
    29. Anat R. Admati & Peter M. Demarzo & Martin F. Hellwig & Paul Pfleiderer, 2018. "The Leverage Ratchet Effect," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 73(1), pages 145-198, February.
    30. Azmeh, Shamel & Nadvi, Khalid, 2014. "Asian firms and the restructuring of global value chains," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 56666, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    31. Scuotto, Veronica & Garcia-Perez, Alexeis & Nespoli, Chiara & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2020. "A repositioning organizational knowledge dynamics by functional upgrading and downgrading strategy in global value chain," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).
    32. Lin Cui & Fuming Jiang, 2012. "State ownership effect on firms' FDI ownership decisions under institutional pressure: a study of Chinese outward-investing firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(3), pages 264-284, April.
    33. Jiangyong Lu & Xiaohui Liu & Mike Wright & Igor Filatotchev, 2014. "International experience and FDI location choices of Chinese firms: The moderating effects of home country government support and host country institutions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(4), pages 428-449, May.
    34. Azmeh, Shamel & Nadvi, Khalid, 2014. "Asian firms and the restructuring of global value chains," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 708-717.
    35. Irina Surdu & Henrich R. Greve & Gabriel R. G. Benito, 2021. "Back to basics: Behavioral theory and internationalization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(6), pages 1047-1068, August.
    36. Guo Li & Na Li & Suresh P. Sethi, 2021. "Does CSR Reduce Idiosyncratic Risk? Roles of Operational Efficiency and AI Innovation," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(7), pages 2027-2045, July.
    37. Bruton, Garry D. & Lohrke, Franz T. & Lu, Jane W., 2004. "The evolving definition of what comprises international strategic management research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 413-429.
    38. Onkelinx, Jonas & Manolova, Tatiana S. & Edelman, Linda F., 2016. "The human factor: Investments in employee human capital, productivity, and SME internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 351-364.
    39. Xie, En & Fang, Alex Junyi & Chen, Xin & Wu, Zhan & Kumar, Vikas, 2022. "Performance feedback on sales growth goal and OFDI location choices for firms in emerging economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(4).
    40. Marc Vilanova & Josep Lozano & Daniel Arenas, 2009. "Exploring the Nature of the Relationship Between CSR and Competitiveness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 87(1), pages 57-69, April.
    41. Kerai, Anita & George, Nycil, 2025. "Inconsistent performance feedback and firm internationalization: Can CEOs remove the haze?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(3).
    42. Kolk, Ans, 2016. "The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 23-34.
    43. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Mehmet Genc, 2008. "Transforming disadvantages into advantages: developing-country MNEs in the least developed countries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(6), pages 957-979, September.
    44. Cui, Lin & Meyer, Klaus E. & Hu, Helen Wei, 2014. "What drives firms’ intent to seek strategic assets by foreign direct investment? A study of emerging economy firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 488-501.
    45. Xie, En & Huang, Yuanyuan & Stevens, Charles E. & Lebedev, Sergey, 2019. "Performance feedback and outward foreign direct investment by emerging economy firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 1-1.
    46. Javier Aguilera-Caracuel & Jaime Guerrero-Villegas & María Dolores Vidal-Salazar & Blanca L. Delgado-Márquez, 2015. "International Cultural Diversification and Corporate Social Performance in Multinational Enterprises: The Role of Slack Financial Resources," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 323-353, June.
    47. Juelin Yin & Yuli Zhang, 2012. "Institutional Dynamics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in an Emerging Country Context: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 111(2), pages 301-316, December.
    48. John H Dunning, 1980. "Towards an Eclectic Theory of International Production: Some Empirical Tests," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 11(1), pages 9-31, March.
    49. Daniel A. Levinthal & Claus Rerup, 2021. "The Plural of Goal: Learning in a World of Ambiguity," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(3), pages 527-543, May.
    50. Cui, Lin & Gao, Qiuling & Guo, Jinyu & Ma, Pengcheng, 2022. "OFDI performance of EMNEs: A review and recommendations for future research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    51. Dima Jamali & Ramez Mirshak, 2007. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Theory and Practice in a Developing Country Context," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 243-262, May.
    52. Yu Zhang & Yan Gong, 2018. "Stock Return or Sales Growth? Multiple Performance Feedback and Strategic Investments Under Securities Analysts’ Earnings Pressure," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(8), pages 1356-1385, December.
    53. Ming Jia & Li Tong & P. V. Viswanath & Zhe Zhang, 2016. "Word Power: The Impact of Negative Media Coverage on Disciplining Corporate Pollution," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 138(3), pages 437-458, October.
    54. Huang, Yuanyuan & Xie, En & Wu, Zhan, 2021. "Portfolio characteristics of outward foreign direct investment and dynamic performance of emerging economy firms: An option portfolio perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    55. Milton Friedman, 2007. "The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits," Springer Books, in: Walther Ch Zimmerli & Markus Holzinger & Klaus Richter (ed.), Corporate Ethics and Corporate Governance, pages 173-178, Springer.
    56. Ohad Ref & Zur Shapira, 2017. "Entering new markets: The effect of performance feedback near aspiration and well below and above it," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(7), pages 1416-1434, July.
    57. Ref, Ohad & Feldman, Naomi E. & Iyer, Dinesh N & Shapira, Zur, 2021. "Entry into new foreign markets: Performance feedback and opportunity costs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(6).
    58. Cassandra R. Chambers & Marlon Alves & Pedro Aceves, 2025. "Learning from Inconsistent Performance Feedback," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 36(4), pages 1509-1530, July.
    59. Xing Shi & Yujie Zeng & Yanrui Wu & Shuai Wang, 2023. "Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Green Innovation in Chinese Multinational Companies," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 23-05, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    60. Chengguang Li & Ilgaz Arikan & Oded Shenkar & Asli Arikan, 2020. "The impact of country-dyadic military conflicts on market reaction to cross-border acquisitions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(3), pages 299-325, April.
    61. Hu, Helen Wei & Cui, Lin, 2014. "Outward foreign direct investment of publicly listed firms from China: A corporate governance perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 750-760.
    62. Alessandro Ancarani & Carmela Di Mauro & Yuan Virtanen & Weimu You, 2021. "From China to the West: why manufacturing locates in developed countries," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(5), pages 1435-1449, March.
    63. Naveen Kumar Jain & Tanvi Kothari & Vikas Kumar, 2016. "Location Choice Research: Proposing New Agenda," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 303-324, June.
    64. S. Trevis Certo & Michael C. Withers & Matthew Semadeni, 2017. "A tale of two effects: Using longitudinal data to compare within- and between-firm effects," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(7), pages 1536-1556, July.
    65. Ambra Mazzelli & Robert S. Nason & Alfredo De Massis & Josip Kotlar, 2019. "Causality Rules: Performance Feedback on Hierarchically Related Goals and Capital Investment Variability," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(8), pages 1630-1654, December.
    66. Weilei (Stone) Shi & Sunny Li Sun & Daying Yan & Zhu Zhu, 2017. "Institutional fragility and outward foreign direct investment from China," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(4), pages 452-476, May.
    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. Xie, En & Fang, Alex Junyi & Chen, Xin & Wu, Zhan & Kumar, Vikas, 2022. "Performance feedback on sales growth goal and OFDI location choices for firms in emerging economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(4).
    2. Martínez-Noya, Andrea & Valdés-Llaneza, Ana, 2025. "Performance feedback and international business research: A review and future directions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4).
    3. Kerai, Anita & George, Nycil, 2025. "Inconsistent performance feedback and firm internationalization: Can CEOs remove the haze?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(3).
    4. Xie, En & Huang, Yuanyuan & Stevens, Charles E. & Lebedev, Sergey, 2019. "Performance feedback and outward foreign direct investment by emerging economy firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 1-1.
    5. Bai, Tao & Zhou, Abby Jingzi & Zhou, Steven Shijin & Liesch, Peter, 2025. "Negative performance feedback, CEO power and internationalization," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(3).
    6. Zhensen Yang & Ying Zhou, 2023. "Beggars Cannot be Choosers? How Experiential and Vicarious Learning Direct Problemistic Search at Firm Internationalization," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(6), pages 943-978, December.
    7. Xiao, Shufeng & Tian, Xiaocong, 2023. "Performance feedback and location choice of foreign direct investment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    8. Hendriks, Guus & Slangen, Arjen H.L. & Heugens, Pursey P.M.A.R., 2024. "Country portfolio diversity and firms’ portfolio adjustment decisions: A behavioral perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(4).
    9. Guo, Jianquan & Cheng, He, 2024. "Performance feedback on sales growth and M&A: Evidence from China," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    10. Meng, Can & Sousa, Carlos M.P. & Chen, Jieke, 2024. "Unraveling the relationship between innovation performance feedback and outward FDI: Moderating influence of inward FDI spillovers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    11. Cheng, Lulu & Xie, En & Fang, Junyi & Mei, Nan, 2022. "Performance feedback and firms’ relative strategic emphasis: The moderating effects of board independence and media coverage," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 218-231.
    12. Popli, Manish & Raithatha, Mehul, 2025. "Pace of pro-market reforms, performance feedback, and strategic renewal actions of emerging economy firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(4).
    13. Danchi Tan & Weichieh Su & Joseph T. Mahoney & Yasemin Kor, 2020. "A review of research on the growth of multinational enterprises: A Penrosean lens," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 498-537, June.
    14. Huang, Yuanyuan & Xie, En & Wu, Zhan, 2021. "Portfolio characteristics of outward foreign direct investment and dynamic performance of emerging economy firms: An option portfolio perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    15. Xiao, Shufeng & Yu, Tianjiao, 2024. "Underperformance duration and R&D internationalization: Institutional contingencies in an emerging economy," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(4).
    16. Chidlow, Agnieszka & Wang, Jue & Liu, Xiaohui & Wei, Yingqi, 2021. "A co-evolution perspective of EMNE internationalization and institutions: An integrative framework of 5Cs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    17. Renfei Gao, 2023. "Inward FDI spillovers and emerging multinationals’ outward FDI in two directions," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 265-293, March.
    18. Kotiloglu, Serhan & Blettner, Daniela & Lechler, Thomas G., 2024. "Integrating national culture into the organizational performance feedback theory," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 327-347.
    19. Zhuang Guo & Yi Xie, 2025. "Impact of internal and external corporate social responsibility on internationalization speed: Evidence from Chinese multinational enterprises," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(1), pages 481-505, January.
    20. Richard Yeaw Chong Seow, 2025. "The Dynamics of Performance Feedback and ESG Disclosure: A Behavioral Theory of the Firm Perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(2), pages 2598-2615, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:eee:intman:v:31:y:2025:i:6:s1075425325000869. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/601266/description#description .

    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.