Is the corporate social responsibility countercyclical? – evidence from Chinese listed companies

Whether the real performance of corporate social responsibility is related to social progress and development in the critical period of China’s economic transformation. It is crucially significant for improving social welfare and promoting high-quality economic development to clarify the relationship between the business cycle and corporate social responsibility. Choosing A-share listed companies in China’s capital market between 2011 and 2018 as a sample, we find corporate has a better social performance during business contraction, and social responsibility presents a counter-cyclical support effect, which is more obvious in non-state corporate. Public popularity, growth level and financial distress can significantly promote this counter-cyclical support effect. Further research finds that social responsibility in economic contraction can bring government subsidy, financing convenience and reputation return for corporate in the next year. Our study enriches the literature on business cycle and corporate social responsibility and promotes high-quality economic development.