Exploring the Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Entrepreneurial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Ethics in Entrepreneurship and the Moderating Impact of Spirituality

The present study investigates the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on entrepreneurial behavior, with a specific focus on the mediating role of ethics in entrepreneurship and the moderating impact of spirituality in the context of emerging markets, namely China and Pakistan. Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for a multi-sample analysis, the research analyzes data collected from diverse businesses in these two countries. The findings reveal that CSR significantly impacts entrepreneurial behavior, with ethics in entrepreneurship serving as a crucial mediator in this relationship. Furthermore, spirituality was found to have a moderating effect, albeit differently in China and Pakistan, reflecting varied cultural and socio-economic contexts. These results highlight the importance of contextual and cultural factors in understanding the CSR-entrepreneurship nexus. The study’s implications are twofold: it offers a deeper understanding of the dynamics between CSR, ethics, and entrepreneurship in emerging markets, and it provides valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders aiming to foster responsible and ethical entrepreneurial ecosystems.