IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/asiaps/v11y2024i3ne397.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Investorsʼ view of mandatory corporate social responsibility as a public policy: The case of section 135 of the Indian Companies Act 2013

Author

Listed:
  • LeRoy Tim Ruhupatty
  • Melisa Ann Ruhupatty

Abstract

We investigate investor sentiment regarding mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a public policy. Using the event study methodology, we analysed the cumulative abnormal returns (AR) of companies impacted by Section 135 of the Indian Companies Act 2013. Our findings suggest that setting a CSR expenditure threshold may lead companies lagging in CSR to over‐invest, potentially hindering value maximisation. Specifically, we observed that the cumulative AR for companies lagging in CSR are lower than those leading in CSR. Therefore, mandating CSR practices may be counterproductive for value creation. This event study is one of the first to evaluate the impact of mandatory CSR as public policy on CSR‐leading and lagging firms.

Suggested Citation

  • LeRoy Tim Ruhupatty & Melisa Ann Ruhupatty, 2024. "Investorsʼ view of mandatory corporate social responsibility as a public policy: The case of section 135 of the Indian Companies Act 2013," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(3), September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaps:v:11:y:2024:i:3:n:e397
    DOI: 10.1002/app5.397
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.397
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/app5.397?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. Rosa Fioravante, 2024. "Beyond the Business Case for Responsible Artificial Intelligence: Strategic CSR in Light of Digital Washing and the Moral Human Argument," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Jonathan P. Doh & Terrence R. Guay, 2006. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Public Policy, and NGO Activism in Europe and the United States: An Institutional‐Stakeholder Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(1), pages 47-73, January.
    3. Chao-Chan Wu & Fei-Chun Cheng & Dong-Yu Sheh, 2023. "Exploring the factors affecting the implementation of corporate social responsibility from a strategic perspective," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Henry Petersen & Harrie Vredenburg, 2009. "Morals or Economics? Institutional Investor Preferences for Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 90(1), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Carroll, Archie B., 1991. "The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: Toward the moral management of organizational stakeholders," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 39-48.
    6. Abhishek Mukherjee & Ron Bird, 2016. "Analysis of mandatory CSR expenditure in India: a survey," International Journal of Corporate Governance, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 7(1), pages 32-59.
    7. Luu Trong Tuan, 2012. "Corporate social responsibility, ethics, and corporate governance," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 8(4), pages 547-560, September.
    8. Archie B. Carroll, 2016. "Carroll’s pyramid of CSR: taking another look," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-8, December.
    9. Ans Kolk & Jonatan Pinkse, 2010. "The integration of corporate governance in corporate social responsibility disclosures," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(1), pages 15-26, January.
    10. Bindu Arya & Gaiyan Zhang, 2009. "Institutional Reforms and Investor Reactions to CSR Announcements: Evidence from an Emerging Economy," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(7), pages 1089-1112, November.
    11. Lee, Eun Mi & Park, Seong-Yeon & Lee, Hyun Jung, 2013. "Employee perception of CSR activities: Its antecedents and consequences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 1716-1724.
    12. David A Waldman & Mary Sully de Luque & Nathan Washburn & Robert J House & Bolanle Adetoun & Angel Barrasa & Mariya Bobina & Muzaffer Bodur & Yi-Jung Chen & Sukhendu Debbarma & Peter Dorfman & Rosemar, 2006. "Cultural and leadership predictors of corporate social responsibility values of top management: a GLOBE study of 15 countries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(6), pages 823-837, November.
    13. Dharmapala, Dhammika & Khanna, Vikramaditya, 2018. "The impact of mandated corporate social responsibility: Evidence from India’s Companies Act of 2013," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 92-104.
    14. Maretno Harjoto & Hoje Jo, 2011. "Corporate Governance and CSR Nexus," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 45-67, April.
    15. MuiChing Chan & John Watson & David Woodliff, 2014. "Corporate Governance Quality and CSR Disclosures," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(1), pages 59-73, November.
    16. Binder, John J, 1998. "The Event Study Methodology since 1969," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 111-137, September.
    17. Ioannis Ioannou & George Serafeim, 2015. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on investment recommendations: Analysts' perceptions and shifting institutional logics," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(7), pages 1053-1081, July.
    18. Supriti Mishra & Damodar Suar, 2010. "Do stakeholder management strategy and salience influence corporate social responsibility in Indian companies?," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(2), pages 306-327, June.
    19. Vardhini Rajagopal & Lata Dyaram & Venkat Ram Reddy Ganuthula, 2016. "Stakeholder salience and CSR in Indian context," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 43(4), pages 351-363, December.
    20. Hariom Manchiraju & Shivaram Rajgopal, 2017. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Create Shareholder Value? Evidence from the Indian Companies Act 2013," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(5), pages 1257-1300, December.
    21. Lukas Timbate & Cheong Kyu Park, 2018. "CSR Performance, Financial Reporting, and Investors’ Perception on Financial Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-16, February.
    22. Groening, Christopher & Kanuri, Vamsi Krishna, 2013. "Investor reaction to positive and negative corporate social events," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 1852-1860.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Anna Jessop & Nicole Wilson & Michal Bardecki & Cory Searcy, 2019. "Corporate Environmental Disclosure in India: An Analysis of Multinational and Domestic Agrochemical Corporations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-33, September.
    2. Jadiyappa, Nemiraja & Joseph, Anto & Sisodia, Garima & Krishnankutty, Raveesh & Shrivatsava, Santosh, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and cash holdings in India: Evidence from a natural experiment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    3. Shankar Shaw, Tara & Raithatha, Mehul & Krishnan, Gopal V. & Cordeiro, James J., 2021. "Did mandatory CSR compliance impact accounting Conservatism? Evidence from the Indian Companies Act 2013," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(3).
    4. Manish Bansal, 2022. "Impact of mandatory CSR spending on strategic brand‐building levers: Evidence from a quasi‐natural experiment in India," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 3620-3633, December.
    5. Sreevas Sahasranamam & Bindu Arya & Mukesh Sud, 2020. "Ownership structure and corporate social responsibility in an emerging market," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 1165-1192, December.
    6. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    7. Ligorio, Lorenzo & Caputo, Fabio & Venturelli, Andrea, 2022. "Sustainability disclosure and reporting by municipally owned water utilities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. José María Agudo-Valiente & Concepción Garcés-Ayerbe & Manuel Salvador-Figueras, 2017. "Corporate Social Responsibility Drivers and Barriers According to Managers’ Perception; Evidence from Spanish Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-24, October.
    9. Hajdu, Anna & Daziano, Marcos F. & Visser, Oane, 2021. "Institutions and individual values motivating corporate social responsibility activities in large farms and agroholdings," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 24(4), April.
    10. GUPTA Pradeep Kumar & GARG Arunesh, 2022. "Impact Of Csr Expenditure Compliance On Firm Value Using P/B-Roe Valuation Model And Instrumental Approach," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 17(2), pages 108-123, August.
    11. Shantanu Dutta & Supriya Katti & B. V. Phani & Pengcheng Zhu, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility spending as a building block for sustainable corporate ethical identity: Lessons from Indian business groups," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 696-717, April.
    12. Kevin Koh & Heather Li & Yen H. Tong, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and stakeholder engagement: Evidence from the quantity and quality of CSR disclosures," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 504-517, March.
    13. Wang Shuo & Gao Yuhui, 2016. "What do we know about corporate social responsibility research? a content analysis," The Irish Journal of Management, Sciendo, vol. 35(1), pages 1-16, April.
    14. Berber Nemanja & Slavić Agneš & Aleksić Marko, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Contemporary Organizations: Evidence from Serbian Processing Industry," Economic Themes, Sciendo, vol. 59(2), pages 227-241, June.
    15. Claude Francoeur & Réal Labelle & Souha Balti & Saloua EL Bouzaidi, 2019. "To What Extent Do Gender Diverse Boards Enhance Corporate Social Performance?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 343-357, March.
    16. Mukherjee, Abhishek & Bird, Ron & Duppati, Geeta, 2018. "Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility: The Indian experience," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 254-265.
    17. Maria Baldini & Lorenzo Dal Maso & Giovanni Liberatore & Francesco Mazzi & Simone Terzani, 2018. "Role of Country- and Firm-Level Determinants in Environmental, Social, and Governance Disclosure," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 79-98, June.
    18. Habtie Alemnew Belay & Fentaye Kasaa Hailu & Gedif Tessema Sinshaw, 2024. "Linking employees' work orientation and corporate social responsibility practices: Multilevel and multistakeholder cross‐sectional study," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 676-696, January.
    19. Bhattacharyya, Asit & Rahman, Md Lutfur, 2019. "Mandatory CSR expenditure and firm performance," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3).
    20. Antony King Fung Wong & Seongseop (Sam) Kim, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Internal Consequences: The Moderating Role of Employees’ Position Levels," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, February.

    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:bla:asiaps:v:11:y:2024:i:3:n:e397. 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: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=2050-2680 .

    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.