IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/buseth/v31y2022i3p682-701.html

Power and responsibility: How different sources of CEO power affect firms' corporate social responsibility practices

Author

Listed:
  • Xingping Jia
  • Shudi Liao
  • Beatrice Van der Heijden
  • Wenqian Li

Abstract

Does greater CEO power come with more responsibility? Previous scholarly work in this field entails divergent results on this question. Based on the upper echelons theory and CEO power literature, this study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying how different sources of CEO power, including structural, ownership, expert, and prestige power, affect firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and whether such relationships are moderated by firm visibility. Using a panel dataset comprising 6604 yearly observations of Chinese publicly traded firms from 2009 to 2019, we found that structural power is negatively related to CSR practices and that expert power is positively related to CSR practices, whereas ownership power and prestige power have no direct relationship with CSR practices. Our results show that firm visibility weakens the negative relationship between structural power and CSR practices and strengthens the relationship between expert power and CSR practices, respectively. Overall, this study reconciles the mixed results of previous studies on the impact of CEO power on CSR and integrates the effect of firm visibility as a contextual factor. This article concludes with practical recommendations on how to manage CSR engagement.

Suggested Citation

  • Xingping Jia & Shudi Liao & Beatrice Van der Heijden & Wenqian Li, 2022. "Power and responsibility: How different sources of CEO power affect firms' corporate social responsibility practices," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 682-701, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:buseth:v:31:y:2022:i:3:p:682-701
    DOI: 10.1111/beer.12438
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12438
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/beer.12438?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alakent, Ekin & Goktan, M. Sinan & Khoury, Theodore A., 2020. "Is venture capital socially responsible? Exploring the imprinting effect of VC funding on CSR practices," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(3).
    2. Chahine, Salim & Fang, Yiwei & Hasan, Iftekhar & Mazboudi, Mohamad, 2019. "Entrenchment through corporate social responsibility: Evidence from CEO network centrality," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    3. Judith L. Walls & Pascual Berrone, 2017. "The Power of One to Make a Difference: How Informal and Formal CEO Power Affect Environmental Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(2), pages 293-308, October.
    4. Chien, Chin-Chen & Peng, Chih-Wei, 2012. "Does going green pay off in the long run?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(11), pages 1636-1642.
    5. Yuan Yuan & Gaoliang Tian & Louise Yi Lu & Yangxin Yu, 2019. "CEO Ability and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 391-411, June.
    6. Michael L. McDonald & James D. Westphal & Melissa E. Graebner, 2008. "What do they know? The effects of outside director acquisition experience on firm acquisition performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(11), pages 1155-1177, November.
    7. Oleg V. Petrenko & Federico Aime & Jason Ridge & Aaron Hill, 2016. "Corporate social responsibility or CEO narcissism? CSR motivations and organizational performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 262-279, February.
    8. Jie Cao & Hao Liang & Xintong Zhan, 2019. "Peer Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(12), pages 5487-5503, December.
    9. Jon Reast & François Maon & Adam Lindgreen & Joëlle Vanhamme, 2013. "Legitimacy-Seeking Organizational Strategies in Controversial Industries: A Case Study Analysis and a Bidimensional Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 139-153, November.
    10. Timothy D. Hubbard & Dane M. Christensen & Scott D. Graffin, 2017. "Higher Highs and Lower Lows: The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in CEO Dismissal," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(11), pages 2255-2265, November.
    11. Joan Wiggenhorn & Seema Pissaris & Kimberly Gleason, 2016. "Powerful CEOs and employee relations: evidence from corporate social responsibility indicators," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 40(1), pages 85-104, January.
    12. Lee, Gilsoo & Cho, Sam Yul & Arthurs, Jonathan & Lee, Eun Kyung, 2020. "Celebrity CEO, identity threat, and impression management: Impact of celebrity status on corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 69-84.
    13. Yan Ye & Kongyue Li, 2021. "Impact of family involvement on internal and external corporate social responsibilities: Evidence from Chinese publicly listed firms," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 352-365, January.
    14. Frank Li & Tao Li & Dylan Minor, 2016. "CEO power, corporate social responsibility, and firm value: a test of agency theory," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(5), pages 611-628, October.
    15. Canace, Thomas G. & Cianci, Anna M. & (Kelvin) Liu, Xiaotao & Tsakumis, George T., 2020. "Paid for looks when others are looking: CEO facial traits, compensation, and corporate visibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 85-100.
    16. Frank Li & Tao Li & Dylan Minor, 2016. "CEO power, corporate social responsibility, and firm value: a test of agency theory," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(5), pages 611-628, October.
    17. Yi Tang & Daniel Z. Mack & Guoli Chen, 2018. "The differential effects of CEO narcissism and hubris on corporate social responsibility," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(5), pages 1370-1387, May.
    18. Shih-Chi Chiu & Mark Sharfman, 2018. "Corporate Social Irresponsibility and Executive Succession: An Empirical Examination," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(3), pages 707-723, May.
    19. Frank Li & Tao Li & Dylan Minor, 2016. "CEO power, corporate social responsibility, and firm value: a test of agency theory," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(5), pages 611-628, October.
    20. Jianyun Tang & Mary Crossan & W. Glenn Rowe, 2011. "Dominant CEO, Deviant Strategy, and Extreme Performance: The Moderating Role of a Powerful Board," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(7), pages 1479-1503, November.
    21. Peter Demerjian & Baruch Lev & Sarah McVay, 2012. "Quantifying Managerial Ability: A New Measure and Validity Tests," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 58(7), pages 1229-1248, July.
    22. Henri Servaes & Ane Tamayo, 2013. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Firm Value: The Role of Customer Awareness," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(5), pages 1045-1061, May.
    23. James Heckman, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    24. Haemin Dennis Park & Daniel Tzabbar, 2016. "Venture Capital, CEOs’ Sources of Power, and Innovation Novelty at Different Life Stages of a New Venture," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 336-353, April.
    25. Ruxi Wang & Frank Wijen & Pursey P.M.A.R. Heugens, 2018. "Government's green grip: Multifaceted state influence on corporate environmental actions in China," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 403-428, February.
    26. Ryan W. Buell & Basak Kalkanci, 2021. "How Transparency into Internal and External Responsibility Initiatives Influences Consumer Choice," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(2), pages 932-950, February.
    27. Caroline Flammer & Aleksandra Kacperczyk, 2016. "The Impact of Stakeholder Orientation on Innovation: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 62(7), pages 1982-2001, July.
    28. Caroline Flammer, 2015. "Does product market competition foster corporate social responsibility? Evidence from trade liberalization," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(10), pages 1469-1485, October.
    29. Guoli Chen & Craig Crossland & Sterling Huang, 2020. "That Could Have Been Me: Director Deaths, CEO Mortality Salience, and Corporate Prosocial Behavior," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(7), pages 3142-3161, July.
    30. Jiraporn, P. & Chintrakarn, P., 2013. "How do powerful CEOs view corporate social responsibility (CSR)? An empirical note," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 119(3), pages 344-347.
    31. Christopher Marquis & Cuili Qian, 2014. "Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China: Symbol or Substance?," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(1), pages 127-148, February.
    32. Mohammad Jizi & Aly Salama & Robert Dixon & Rebecca Stratling, 2014. "Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: Evidence from the US Banking Sector," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(4), pages 601-615, December.
    33. Stephen Brammer & Andrew Millington, 2008. "Does it pay to be different? An analysis of the relationship between corporate social and financial performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(12), pages 1325-1343, December.
    34. Won-Yong Oh & Young Kyun Chang & Zheng Cheng, 2016. "When CEO Career Horizon Problems Matter for Corporate Social Responsibility: The Moderating Roles of Industry-Level Discretion and Blockholder Ownership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 279-291, January.
    35. Chen, Yi-Chun & Hung, Mingyi & Wang, Yongxiang, 2018. "The effect of mandatory CSR disclosure on firm profitability and social externalities: Evidence from China," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 169-190.
    36. Mohammad Badrul Muttakin & Arifur Khan & Dessalegn Getie Mihret, 2018. "The Effect of Board Capital and CEO Power on Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 41-56, June.
    37. Zucker, Lynne G & Darby, Michael R & Brewer, Marilynn B, 1998. "Intellectual Human Capital and the Birth of U.S. Biotechnology Enterprises," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(1), pages 290-306, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Saeed Rabea Baatwah & Effiezal Aswadi Abdul Wahab, 2023. "Women and CSR budgeting and spending: Does ownership enhance their CSR role?," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 1277-1296, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chiu, Sana (Shih-chi) & Hoskisson, Robert E. & Tony Kong, Dejun & Li, Andrew & Shao, Ping, 2023. "Predicting primary and secondary stakeholder engagement: A CEO motivation-means contingency model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    2. Zhaocheng Xu & Jingchuan Hou, 2021. "Effects of CEO Overseas Experience on Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, May.
    3. Ruxi Wang & Yihui Xiao & Chunling Zhu & Yuwei Qi, 2025. "Is obedience rewarding? State investment in response to CSR reporting in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 1303-1343, September.
    4. Marwan Al-Shammari & Soumendra Nath Banerjee & Abdul Rasheed & Hussam Al-Shammari & Krist Swimberghe, 2025. "Sameness and/or Otherness: What Matters More for Narcissist CEOs in the Context of Non-market Strategy?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 199(1), pages 85-112, June.
    5. Kwon, Shin Hyoung & Kim, Joongseo & Yim, Hyunsoon (Sean), 2023. "Looking far or close: The explanatory role of myopic management in the relationship between CEO-TMT power disparity and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    6. Habiba Al-Shaer & Khaldoon Albitar & Jia Liu, 2023. "CEO power and CSR-linked compensation for corporate environmental responsibility: UK evidence," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(3), pages 1025-1063, April.
    7. Brahma, Sanjukta & Boateng, Agyenim, 2025. "Board gender diversity, CEO power and LGBTQ-supportive corporate policies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    8. Shan Xu & Panyi Ma, 2022. "CEOs’ Poverty Experience and Corporate Social Responsibility: Are CEOs Who Have Experienced Poverty More Generous?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 747-776, October.
    9. Daewoung Choi & Hyunju Shin & Kyoungmi Kim, 2023. "CEO’s Childhood Experience of Natural Disaster and CSR Activities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(2), pages 281-306, November.
    10. Bhaskar, Ratikant & Li, Peigong & Bansal, Shashank & Kumar, Satish, 2023. "A new insight on CEO characteristics and corporate social responsibility (CSR): A meta-analytical review," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    11. Jesper Haga & Fredrik Huhtamäki & Dennis Sundvik, 2022. "Ruthless Exploiters or Ethical Guardians of the Workforce? Powerful CEOs and their Impact on Workplace Safety and Health," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 641-663, May.
    12. Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah & Saeed Akbar & Xiaoyun Zhu, 2025. "Mandatory CSR disclosure, institutional ownership and firm value: Evidence from China," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 71-85, January.
    13. Bose, Sudipta & Boubaker, Sabri & Daradkeh, Hussein & Shams, Syed, 2025. "From the executive suite to the environment: How does CEO power affect climate change disclosures?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    14. Marwan Al‐Shammari & Soumendra Banerjee & Miguel Caldas & Krist Swimberghe, 2023. "Differential impact of chief executive officer tenure on the firm's external and internal corporate social responsibility: Moderating effects of firm's visibility and slack," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 961-985, July.
    15. Don O'Sullivan & Leon Zolotoy & Qingliang Fan, 2021. "CEO early‐life disaster experience and corporate social performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(11), pages 2137-2161, November.
    16. Liang, Quanxi & Li, Qiumei & Lu, Meiting & Shan, Yaowen & Wang, Peipei, 2024. "Peer effects on corporate environmental protection: Competition, information cascades or career concerns?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    17. Farman Ullah Khan & Vanina Adoriana Trifan & Mioara Florina Pantea & Junrui Zhang & Muhammad Nouman, 2022. "Internal Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Chinese Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, February.
    18. Karim Mahran & Ahmed A. Elamer, 2025. "Shaping ESG commitment through organizational psychological capital: The role of CEO power," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 690-707, January.
    19. Yongqiang Gao & Haibin Yang & Taïeb Hafsi, 2019. "Corporate giving and corporate financial performance: the S-curve relationship," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 687-713, September.
    20. Ruixi Long & Shuyang Jia, 2023. "Foreground or background my social responsibility: impact of the trade war on the readability of corporate social responsibility disclosures," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 79-97, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:buseth:v:31:y:2022:i:3:p:682-701. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/26946424 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.