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Enhancing CSR performance in emerging market firms: The effects of pro-market reforms, government support, and internationalization

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  • Ahmed, Muhammad
  • Shu, Chengli
  • Luo, Dan
  • Ali, Adnan

Abstract

Over the past decade, corporate social responsibility (CSR) in emerging markets has attracted growing attention in the business literature. However, emerging market firms (EMFs) operate within complex institutional environments marked by a continuous developmental transition. Understanding how institutional transitions such as pro-market reforms influence EMFs’ CSR performance is therefore critical. Drawing on institutional theory, this study examines the impact of regional pro-market reforms on CSR performance and investigates the moderating roles played by government support and internationalization. Using a comprehensive panel dataset of 25,746 firm-year observations collected from 3,372 Chinese listed firms, we find that pro-market reforms are positively associated with CSR performance. This relationship is weakened by government support of firms but strengthened when firms exhibit deeper engagement in foreign markets. These findings highlight the contingent role that pro-market reforms play in shaping EMFs’ CSR outcomes and offer novel insights into interaction between institutional reforms, state involvement, and internationalization in emerging economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed, Muhammad & Shu, Chengli & Luo, Dan & Ali, Adnan, 2026. "Enhancing CSR performance in emerging market firms: The effects of pro-market reforms, government support, and internationalization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:210:y:2026:i:c:s0148296326001864
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116151
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