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Sustainable investments in the face of social unrest and risk: A new perspective on corporate social responsibility

Author

Listed:
  • Oga, Yutaro
  • Ito, Kazuya
  • Takashima, Ryuta

Abstract

In recent years, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have become increasingly prevalent as corporate initiatives, owing to their influence on companies and their societal dimensions. To address the gap in the literature on the effect of CSR activities on firms and their value, this study develops a theoretical model of real options considering market uncertainty and analyzes the relationship between a firm’s investment in CSR activities and the risk to its assets. The analysis demonstrates the existence of an optimal level of investment in CSR activities and shows that at this level, the beta of the firm’s assets undergoes the most significant decrease. Furthermore, by examining the relationship between the monetization potential of investment and the beta of assets, this study demonstrates that CSR activities can effectively reduce asset risk. It evaluates a firm’s value and beta from the perspective of investment in CSR activities and the potential for investment success, demonstrating the utility of this investment. It also highlights that the effectiveness of external CSR activities in increasing a firm’s value is contingent on their recognition and visibility in situations of significant social unrest and provides a practical implication that companies should consider engaging in outward-facing CSR activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Oga, Yutaro & Ito, Kazuya & Takashima, Ryuta, 2024. "Sustainable investments in the face of social unrest and risk: A new perspective on corporate social responsibility," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:236:y:2024:i:c:s0165176524000995
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111616
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social capital; Optimal investment; Monetization potential; Asset returns; Real options;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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