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Main Factors for Understanding High Impacts on CSR Dimensions in the Finance Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Belen Lopez

    (Communication Department, ESIC, Business & Marketing School, 28223 Madrid, Spain)

  • Alfonso Torres

    (Finance and Economics Department, ESIC, Business & Marketing School, 28223 Madrid, Spain)

  • Alberto Ruozzi

    (Business Organization and Marketing Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain)

  • Jose Antonio Vicente

    (Market Research and Quantitative Methods Department, ESIC, Business & Marketing School, 28223 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore empirically the dimensions that generate high impact in the finance industry to better understand its contribution from a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) perspective. We analyze data concerning impacts of finance sector firms certified by B Corp in order to identify the combinations that are necessary and/or sufficient to obtain a recognition of their high impact generation. The methodology followed to identify the impact dimensions is fsQCA, (fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis), a qualitative comparative analysis method applied to a sample of finance firms (n-181). The results indicate that financial sector firms exhibited four combinations focusing on different impact dimensions. Specifically, the first route indicates that a high degree of focus on customers and communities is sufficient to obtain a high impact score. The second path signals that the combination of the impacts on customers and corporate governance could lead to the same result, while in the third pathway the focus would be on the employees. Finally, the fourth route indicates that some financial firms focus strongly on their communities, corporate governance and their employees, but very weakly on the environmental dimension. Consequently, diverse combinations of CSR dimensions characterize financial sector contributions to impact generation and sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Belen Lopez & Alfonso Torres & Alberto Ruozzi & Jose Antonio Vicente, 2020. "Main Factors for Understanding High Impacts on CSR Dimensions in the Finance Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2395-:d:334276
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