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Market competition and firms' social performance

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  • Leong, Chee Kian
  • Yang, Yung Chiang

Abstract

This paper investigates whether market competition encourages firms to be more socially responsible. We find that firms in more competitive markets exhibit better overall social performance, as measured by doing well (“strength”) and doing badly (“concern”) in areas such as community, environment, human rights, and treatment of employees. To deal with endogeneity, we instrument market competition on entry barrier and observe that market competition only significantly reduces social concerns but not increases social strengths. Thus, firms are more reactive in reducing social concerns than proactive in augmenting their social strengths. Amongst these concerns, firms appear to be more active in reducing environmental concerns. The paper underscores the limitations in relying on the “invisible hand” of the market to deal with the multi-dimensional challenges of firms’ social performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Leong, Chee Kian & Yang, Yung Chiang, 2020. "Market competition and firms' social performance," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 601-612.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:91:y:2020:i:c:p:601-612
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2019.12.002
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    3. De Chiara, Alessandro & Manna, Ester, 2022. "Firms' ownership, employees’ altruism, and product market competition," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    4. Kong, Xiaowei & Jiang, Fan & Zhu, Ling, 2022. "Business strategy, corporate social responsibility, and within-firm pay gap," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    5. Zhang, Yue & Zhao, Zhao, 2022. "Environmental regulations and corporate social responsibility: Evidence from China's real-time air quality monitoring policy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
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    7. Erragragui, Elias & Peillex, Jonathan & Benlemlih, Mohammed & Bitar, Mohammad, 2023. "Stock market reactions to corporate misconduct: The moderating role of legal origin," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social performance; Market competition; Instrumental variable;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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