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Corporate social responsibility and executive compensation: exploring the link

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  • Patti Collett Miles
  • Grant Miles

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore whether socially responsible firms recognize the potential conflicts that come with higher levels of executive compensation, and thus limit executive pay relative to what is being paid in other firms. In the process, the relationships between executive compensation and financial performance, and corporate social performance and financial performance are examined to determine whether potential compensation and social performance links are coming at the expense of company financial performance. Design/methodology/approach - The empirical data for this research were obtained from a stratified sample of Fortune 1000 companies pulled from across more than 15 industries. Multiple regression analysis is utilized to test three hypotheses. Findings - In line with the hypotheses, results indicate that companies identified as good corporate social performers do in fact have lower levels of executive compensation and there is some support found for a positive relationship between social and financial performance. Practical implications - The results provide support for the view that firms concerned about social responsibility can put restrictions on executive compensation and still achieve good financial performance, and make a case that executive compensation should in fact be a concern of all socially responsible firms. Originality/value - There are few studies that examine the direct link between executive compensation and corporate social responsibility. This study addresses this gap in the literature and adds to the discussion as to whether socially responsible firms might seek to better balance compensation across the firm and emphasize that profit, both individual and corporate, must be earned within a system that is fair and balanced for all.

Suggested Citation

  • Patti Collett Miles & Grant Miles, 2013. "Corporate social responsibility and executive compensation: exploring the link," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(1), pages 76-90, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:srjpps:v:9:y:2013:i:1:p:76-90
    DOI: 10.1108/17471111311307822
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sajid Ullah & Farman Ullah Khan & Laura-Mariana Cismaș & Muhammad Usman & Andra Miculescu, 2022. "Do Tournament Incentives Matter for CEOs to Be Environmentally Responsible? Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Joel Rudin & Jooh Lee, 2021. "The Impact of Corporate Reputation Ratings on CEO Compensation Under Diverse Economic Conditions," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(3), pages 117-127, August.
    3. Gratiela Georgiana Noja & Mirela Cristea & Cecilia Nicoleta Jurcut & Alexandru Buglea & Ion Lala Popa, 2020. "Management Financial Incentives and Firm Performance in a Sustainable Development Framework: Empirical Evidence from European Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Habiba Al-Shaer & Mahbub Zaman, 2019. "CEO Compensation and Sustainability Reporting Assurance: Evidence from the UK," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 233-252, August.
    5. OTUYA Sunday & AKPORIEN Fidelis & OFEIMUN Godwin, 2019. "Influence of Companies’ Governance Process on Sustainability Reporting in Nigeria," International Journal of Applied Economics, Finance and Accounting, Online Academic Press, vol. 5(1), pages 31-38.
    6. Novak, Jiri & Bilinski, Pawel, 2018. "Social stigma and executive compensation," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 169-184.
    7. Douglas A. Adu & Antoinette Flynn & Colette Grey, 2022. "Executive compensation and sustainable business practices: The moderating role of sustainability‐based compensation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 698-736, March.
    8. Kuo-Shing Chen & Chien-Chiang Lee & Huolien Tsai, 2019. "Taxation of Wealthy Individuals, Inequality Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Claude Francoeur & Andrea Melis & Silvia Gaia & Simone Aresu, 2017. "Green or Greed? An Alternative Look at CEO Compensation and Corporate Environmental Commitment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 439-453, February.
    10. Joel Rudin & Jooh Lee, 0. "The Impact of Corporate Reputation Ratings on CEO Compensation Under Diverse Economic Conditions," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-11.
    11. Eriana Kartadjumena & Waymond Rodgers, 2019. "Executive Compensation, Sustainability, Climate, Environmental Concerns, and Company Financial Performance: Evidence from Indonesian Commercial Banks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, March.
    12. Kopel, Michael & Putz, Eva Maria, 2021. "Why socially concerned firms use low-powered managerial incentives: A complementary explanation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 473-482.

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