IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/intfin/v70y2021ics1042443120301591.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

CSR disclosure of foreign versus U.S. firms: Evidence from ADRs

Author

Listed:
  • Chowdhury, Reza H.
  • Fu, Chengbo
  • Huang, Qiping
  • Lin, Nanying

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly demanded by investors worldwide. In this article, we study whether foreign firms listed on U.S. capital markets are competitive to U.S. firms in providing better CSR disclosure. We also examine whether such transparency allows foreign firms to achieve a competitive advantage relative to their U.S. counterparts. Using environmental, social, and governance disclosure scores, we find that foreign firms disclose more than comparable U.S. firms, particularly in the environmental and social dimensions of CSR. Furthermore, we find consistent evidence that foreign stocks experience lower idiosyncratic volatility, better liquidity, and higher institutional ownership relative to other comparable U.S. stocks due to a higher CSR disclosure of foreign firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Chowdhury, Reza H. & Fu, Chengbo & Huang, Qiping & Lin, Nanying, 2021. "CSR disclosure of foreign versus U.S. firms: Evidence from ADRs," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:70:y:2021:i:c:s1042443120301591
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2020.101275
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1042443120301591
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.intfin.2020.101275?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Portes, Richard & Rey, Helene, 2005. "The determinants of cross-border equity flows," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 269-296, March.
    2. Andrei Shleifer & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Rafael La Porta, 2008. "The Economic Consequences of Legal Origins," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(2), pages 285-332, June.
    3. Darren D. Lee & Robert W. Faff, 2009. "Corporate Sustainability Performance and Idiosyncratic Risk: A Global Perspective," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 44(2), pages 213-237, May.
    4. R. Gaston Gelos & Shang‐Jin Wei, 2005. "Transparency and International Portfolio Holdings," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 60(6), pages 2987-3020, December.
    5. Mohammed Benlemlih & Amama Shaukat & Yan Qiu & Grzegorz Trojanowski, 2018. "Environmental and Social Disclosures and Firm Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 613-626, October.
    6. Bok Baik & Jun-Koo Kang & Jin-Mo Kim & Joonho Lee, 2013. "The liability of foreignness in international equity investments: Evidence from the US stock market," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(4), pages 391-411, May.
    7. Geoffrey Heal, 2005. "Corporate Social Responsibility: An Economic and Financial Framework," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 30(3), pages 387-409, July.
    8. Huo, Weidong & Fu, Chengbo & Huang, Ying & Zheng, Steven Xiaofan, 2018. "The valuation of ADR IPOs," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 215-226.
    9. Steven F. Cahan & Charl De Villiers & Debra C. Jeter & Vic Naiker & Chris J. Van Staden, 2016. "Are CSR Disclosures Value Relevant? Cross-Country Evidence," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(3), pages 579-611, September.
    10. Roland Bénabou & Jean Tirole, 2010. "Individual and Corporate Social Responsibility," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 77(305), pages 1-19, January.
    11. Valentina Marano & Peter Tashman & Tatiana Kostova, 2017. "Escaping the iron cage: Liabilities of origin and CSR reporting of emerging market multinational enterprises," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(3), pages 386-408, April.
    12. Linda Thorne & Lois S. Mahoney & Giacomo Manetti, 2014. "Motivations for issuing standalone CSR reports: a survey of Canadian firms," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(4), pages 686-714, April.
    13. Denis Cormier & Michel Magnan & Barbara Van Velthoven, 2005. "Environmental disclosure quality in large German companies: Economic incentives, public pressures or institutional conditions?," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 3-39.
    14. Diro Ejara, Demissew & Ghosh, Chinmoy, 2004. "Underpricing and aftermarket performance of American depositary receipts (ADR) IPOs," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 3151-3186, December.
    15. Christian Leuz & Karl V. Lins & Francis E. Warnock, 2010. "Do Foreigners Invest Less in Poorly Governed Firms?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(3), pages 3245-3285, March.
    16. Cai, Weixing & Lee, Edward & Xu, Alice Liang & Zeng, Cheng (Colin), 2019. "Does corporate social responsibility disclosure reduce the information disadvantage of foreign investors?," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 12-29.
    17. Carhart, Mark M, 1997. "On Persistence in Mutual Fund Performance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(1), pages 57-82, March.
    18. Andreas Charitou & Christodoulos Louca & Stelios Panayides, 2007. "Cross‐Listing, Bonding Hypothesis and Corporate Governance," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7‐8), pages 1281-1306, September.
    19. Adhikari, Ajay & Emerson, David & Gouldman, Andrea & Tondkar, Rasoul, 2015. "An examination of corporate social disclosures of multinational corporations: A cross-national investigation," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 100-106.
    20. Zyglidopoulos, Stelios & Williamson, Peter & Symeou, Pavlos, 2016. "The Corporate Social Performance of Developing Country Multinationals," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(3), pages 379-406, July.
    21. Neu, D. & Warsame, H. & Pedwell, K., 1998. "Managing public impressions: environmental disclosures in annual reports," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 23(3), pages 265-282, April.
    22. Qiu, Yan & Shaukat, Amama & Tharyan, Rajesh, 2016. "Environmental and social disclosures: Link with corporate financial performance," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 102-116.
    23. Stephen R. Foerster & G. Andrew Karolyi, 1999. "The Effects of Market Segmentation and Investor Recognition on Asset Prices: Evidence from Foreign Stocks Listing in the United States," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 54(3), pages 981-1013, June.
    24. Gjerde, Tom & Mahenthiran, Sakthi & Cademartori, David, 2013. "Effect of ownership, governance, and transparency on liquidity – Chilean evidence," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 183-202.
    25. Andreas Charitou & Christodoulos Louca & Stelios Panayides, 2007. "Cross-Listing, Bonding Hypothesis and Corporate Governance," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7-8), pages 1281-1306.
    26. Bailey, Warren & Andrew Karolyi, G. & Salva, Carolina, 2006. "The economic consequences of increased disclosure: Evidence from international cross-listings," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(1), pages 175-213, July.
    27. Bryan W Husted & David B Allen, 2006. "Corporate social responsibility in the multinational enterprise: strategic and institutional approaches," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(6), pages 838-849, November.
    28. R Greg Bell & Igor Filatotchev & Abdul A Rasheed, 2012. "The liability of foreignness in capital markets: Sources and remedies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(2), pages 107-122, February.
    29. Waris Ali & Jedrzej George Frynas & Zeeshan Mahmood, 2017. "Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosure in Developed and Developing Countries: A Literature Review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(4), pages 273-294, July.
    30. Arifur Khan & Mohammad Muttakin & Javed Siddiqui, 2013. "Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures: Evidence from an Emerging Economy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 207-223, May.
    31. Carmelo Reverte, 2012. "The Impact of Better Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure on the Cost of Equity Capital," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(5), pages 253-272, September.
    32. Amihud, Yakov, 2002. "Illiquidity and stock returns: cross-section and time-series effects," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 31-56, January.
    33. Andrew Ang & Robert J. Hodrick & Yuhang Xing & Xiaoyan Zhang, 2006. "The Cross‐Section of Volatility and Expected Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 61(1), pages 259-299, February.
    34. Li, Shi & Li, Tianze & Mittoo, Usha & Song, Xiaoping & Zheng, Steven Xiaofan, 2019. "ADR valuation and listing of foreign firms in U.S. Equity markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 284-298.
    35. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 1993. "Common risk factors in the returns on stocks and bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 3-56, February.
    36. Kolk, Ans, 2016. "The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 23-34.
    37. Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez & Nazim Hussain & Jennifer Martínez‐Ferrero & Emiliano Ruiz‐Barbadillo, 2019. "Impact of disclosure and assurance quality of corporate sustainability reports on access to finance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(4), pages 832-848, July.
    38. Won Oh & Young Chang & Aleksey Martynov, 2011. "The Effect of Ownership Structure on Corporate Social Responsibility: Empirical Evidence from Korea," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 283-297, December.
    39. Bancel, Franck & Kalimipalli, Madhu & Mittoo, Usha R., 2009. "Cross-listing and the long-term performance of ADRs: Revisiting European evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 19(5), pages 895-923, December.
    40. Jean Tsitaire Arrive & Mei Feng, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure: Evidence from BRICS nations," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 920-927, September.
    41. Aggarwal, Reena & Klapper, Leora & Wysocki, Peter D., 2005. "Portfolio preferences of foreign institutional investors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(12), pages 2919-2946, December.
    42. Chen, Hsuan-Chi & Fauver, Larry & Yang, Pei-Ching, 2009. "What do investment banks charge to underwrite American Depositary Receipts?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 609-618, April.
    43. Maretno Harjoto & Hoje Jo & Yongtae Kim, 2017. "Is Institutional Ownership Related to Corporate Social Responsibility? The Nonlinear Relation and Its Implication for Stock Return Volatility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 77-109, November.
    44. Siegel, Jordan, 2005. "Can foreign firms bond themselves effectively by renting U.S. securities laws?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 319-359, February.
    45. Muhammad Azizul Islam & Craig Deegan, 2008. "Motivations for an organisation within a developing country to report social responsibility information," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(6), pages 850-874, August.
    46. Boubakri, Narjess & El Ghoul, Sadok & Wang, He & Guedhami, Omrane & Kwok, Chuck C.Y., 2016. "Cross-listing and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 123-138.
    47. Fernandes, Nuno & Ferreira, Miguel A., 2008. "Does international cross-listing improve the information environment," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 216-244, May.
    48. Bacidore, Jeffrey M. & Battalio, Robert & Galpin, Neal & Jennings, Robert, 2005. "Sources of liquidity for NYSE-listed non-US stocks," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(12), pages 3075-3098, December.
    49. Yaqi Shi & Michel Magnan & Jeong-Bon Kim, 2012. "Do countries matter for voluntary disclosure? Evidence from cross-listed firms in the US," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(2), pages 143-165, February.
    50. Alaganar, V. T. & Bhar, Ramaprasad, 2001. "Diversification gains from American depositary receipts and foreign equities: evidence from Australian stocks," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 97-113, March.
    51. Gupta, Kartick & Krishnamurti, Chandrasekhar, 2018. "Does corporate social responsibility engagement benefit distressed firms? The role of moral and exchange capital," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 249-262.
    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. Boonlert Jitmaneeroj, 2024. "Value relevance of multifaceted corporate social performance: how do country-specific factors matter?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Wang, Tianyu & Yang, Bo, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility, stakeholders’ governance and idiosyncratic risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    3. Zhou, Lu Jolly & Kong, Weimin & Li, Yunshen, 2023. "Cross-listing and predation risk in product markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Clancey-Shang, Danjue & Fu, Chengbo, 2024. "CSR disclosure, political risk and market quality: Evidence from the Russia-Ukraine conflict," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    5. Saeid Homayoun & Bita Mashayekhi & Amin Jahangard & Milad Samavat & Zabihollah Rezaee, 2023. "The Controversial Link between CSR and Financial Performance: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, July.
    6. Fu, Chengbo & Huang, Qiping & Tang, Hongfei, 2022. "Do ETFs affect ADRs and U.S. domestic stocks differently?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).

    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. Huo, Weidong & Fu, Chengbo & Huang, Ying & Zheng, Steven Xiaofan, 2018. "The valuation of ADR IPOs," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 215-226.
    2. Fu, Chengbo & Huang, Qiping & Tang, Hongfei, 2022. "Do ETFs affect ADRs and U.S. domestic stocks differently?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Waris Ali & Jedrzej George Frynas, 2018. "The Role of Normative CSR‐Promoting Institutions in Stimulating CSR Disclosures in Developing Countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(4), pages 373-390, July.
    4. Neupane, Biwesh & Thapa, Chandra & Marshall, Andrew & Neupane, Suman, 2021. "Mimicking insider trades," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    5. Waris Ali & Jedrzej George Frynas & Zeeshan Mahmood, 2017. "Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Disclosure in Developed and Developing Countries: A Literature Review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(4), pages 273-294, July.
    6. Garanina, Tatiana & Aray, Yulia, 2021. "Enhancing CSR disclosure through foreign ownership, foreign board members, and cross-listing: Does it work in Russian context?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    7. Ghadhab, Imen, 2016. "The effect of additional foreign market presence on the trading volume of cross-listed/traded stocks," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 18-27.
    8. Tzouvanas, Panagiotis & Kizys, Renatas & Chatziantoniou, Ioannis & Sagitova, Roza, 2020. "Environmental disclosure and idiosyncratic risk in the European manufacturing sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    9. Waris Ali & Maha Faisal Alsayegh & Zubair Ahmad & Zeeshan Mahmood & Javed Iqbal, 2018. "The Relationship between Social Visibility and CSR Disclosure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-32, March.
    10. 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.
    11. Areneke, Geofry & Kimani, Danson, 2019. "Value relevance of multinational directorship and cross-listing on MNEs national governance disclosure practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Nigeria," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(4), pages 285-306.
    12. Hearn, Bruce & Li, Jing & Mykhayliv, Dariya & Waqas, Muhammad, 2021. "Asset pricing in the Middle East’s equity markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    13. Natalia Diniz-Maganini & Abdul A. Rasheed & Mahmut Yaşar & Hsia Hua Sheng, 2023. "Cross-listing and price efficiency: An institutional explanation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(2), pages 233-257, March.
    14. Yang, Liuyong & Wang, Beibei & Luo, Deming, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility in market liberalization: Evidence from Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    15. Qiuyuan Lei & Muhammad Umer Quddoos Attari & Mustansar Hayat & Muhammad Munir Ahmad & Abdul Haseeb & Amir Rafique, 2023. "Mapping the Themes Underlying the Literature on Cross-Listing of Shares—A Contemporary Corporate Strategy of Sustainable Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-26, June.
    16. Chue, Timothy K. & Gul, Ferdinand A. & Mian, G. Mujtaba, 2019. "Aggregate investor sentiment and stock return synchronicity," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    17. Sapovadia, Vrajlal & Madhani, Pankaj, 2015. "Corporate Governance and Disclosure Practices in India: MNC Subsidiaries versus Domestic Cross-Listed Firms," MPRA Paper 96043, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Hamed, Ruba Subhi & Al-Shattarat, Basiem Khalil & Al-Shattarat, Wasim Khalil & Hussainey, Khaled, 2022. "The impact of introducing new regulations on the quality of CSR reporting: Evidence from the UK," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    19. Daniela Coluccia & Stefano Fontana & Silvia Solimene, 2018. "Does Institutional Context Affect CSR Disclosure? A Study on Eurostoxx 50," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    20. Chou, Julia & Zaiats, Nataliya & Zhang, Bohui, 2014. "Does auditor choice matter to foreign investors? Evidence from foreign mutual funds worldwide," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 1-20.

    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:eee:intfin:v:70:y:2021:i:c:s1042443120301591. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/intfin .

    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.