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The Inverted U‐Shaped Relationship between Corporate Philanthropy and Spending on Research and Development: A Case of Complementarity and Competition Moderated by Firm Size and Visibility

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  • Yongqiang Gao
  • Jian Wu
  • Taïeb Hafsi

Abstract

Prior studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and innovation suggest either a competing or a complementary relationship between CSR and spending on research and development (R&D) activities. In this study, we unravel this puzzle by theorizing an inverted U‐shaped relationship between CSR in general and corporate philanthropy (CP) in particular, and R&D spending. Drawing mainly on stakeholder theory, we suggest that CP, by securing stakeholders’ support differently at different levels of spending, would first increase and then reduce R&D spending. Evidence from Chinese publicly traded companies during 2006–2015 well supports our arguments. In addition, we find this inverse U‐shaped non‐linear relationship between CP and R&D spending to be strengthened by firm visibility and weakened by firm size. This study has important theoretical and practical implications. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

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  • Yongqiang Gao & Jian Wu & Taïeb Hafsi, 2017. "The Inverted U‐Shaped Relationship between Corporate Philanthropy and Spending on Research and Development: A Case of Complementarity and Competition Moderated by Firm Size and Visibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(6), pages 465-477, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:24:y:2017:i:6:p:465-477
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.1420
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    2. Ying Zhang & Ji Li & Wanxing Jiang & Haomin Zhang & Yanghong Hu & Min Liu, 2018. "Organizational structure, slack resources and sustainable corporate socially responsible performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(6), pages 1099-1107, November.
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    4. Timo Busch & Maximilian Schnippering, 2022. "Corporate social and financial performance: Revisiting the role of innovation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 635-645, May.
    5. Xinming Deng & Xianyi Long & Douglas A. Schuler & Huan Luo & Xiaofei Zhao, 2020. "External corporate social responsibility and labor productivity: A S‐curve relationship and the moderating role of internal CSR and government subsidy," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1), pages 393-408, January.
    6. Ming Tian & Teng Wang & Xiaotong Li, 2021. "Dual function of corporate social responsibility on R&D strategy: Moderating effect of board interlock," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(6), pages 1492-1508, September.
    7. Li Ma & Yue Cao & Dake Jiang & Yang Gao & Xiaomin Du, 2020. "Does ethics really matter to the sustainability of new ventures? The relationship between entrepreneurial ethics, firm visibility and entrepreneurial performance," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, January.
    8. Piotr Ratajczak, 2021. "The mediating role of natural and social resources in the corporate social responsibility—corporate financial performance relationship," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(1), pages 100-119, January.
    9. Yiming Zhuang & Xinyue Chang & Younggeun Lee, 2018. "Board Composition and Corporate Social Responsibility Performance: Evidence from Chinese Public Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Zhao, Tianjiao & Chan, Kam C., 2023. "Corporate social network and corporate social responsibility: A perspective of interlocking directorates," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    11. Qian Wang & Huiru Chen & Yajiong Xue & Huigang Liang, 2022. "How Corporate Social Responsibility Affects Firm Performance: The Inverted-U Shape Contingent on Founder CEO," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
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