IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i11p8712-d1157952.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Speed of OFDI under the Belt and Road Initiative

Author

Listed:
  • Xianjing Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Shouming Chen

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Yueqi Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

Since the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese firms have actively responded to the government’s call to accelerate outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). Based on resource dependence theory and institutional theory, this study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the speed of OFDI under BRI and its boundary conditions. The results show that CSR can promote the speed of OFDI under BRI because CSR can help a firm accumulate strategic resources, including external benefits such as a good corporate image, and internal resources such as human capital and dynamic capabilities, and thus enhance legitimacy in host countries and its ability to resist potential risks. We also find that both state ownership and CEO political connections weaken the positive effect of CSR, and if the firm is in the key provinces or key industries of BRI, the positive relationship between CSR and the speed of OFDI under BRI will decrease. Our study contributes to the literature on international business and provides suggestions for firms participating in BRI.

Suggested Citation

  • Xianjing Wang & Shouming Chen & Yueqi Wang, 2023. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Speed of OFDI under the Belt and Road Initiative," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8712-:d:1157952
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/8712/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/8712/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. El Ghoul, Sadok & Guedhami, Omrane & Kwok, Chuck C.Y. & Mishra, Dev R., 2011. "Does corporate social responsibility affect the cost of capital?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 2388-2406, September.
    2. Liao, Hongwei & Yang, Liangping & Dai, Shuanping & Van Assche, Ari, 2021. "Outward FDI, industrial structure upgrading and domestic employment: empirical evidence from the Chinese economy and the belt and road initiative," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Qingtao Wang & Bin Liu, 2022. "State equity and outward FDI under the theme of belt and road initiative," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 877-897, September.
    4. Fonseka, Mohan & Samarakoon, Lalith P. & Tian, Gao-Liang & Seng, Ratney, 2021. "The impact of social trust and state ownership on investment efficiency of Chinese firms," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Wenjing Li & Ran Zhang, 2010. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Ownership Structure, and Political Interference: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 96(4), pages 631-645, November.
    6. Kazunobu Hayakawa & Fukunari Kimura & Hyun-Hoon Lee, 2013. "How Does Country Risk Matter for Foreign Direct Investment?," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 51(1), pages 60-78, March.
    7. Kotler, Philip & Manrai, Lalita A. & Lascu, Dana-Nicoleta & Manrai, Ajay K., 2019. "Influence of country and company characteristics on international business decisions: A review, conceptual model, and propositions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 482-498.
    8. Aray, Yulia & Dikova, Desislava & Garanina, Tatiana & Veselova, Anna, 2021. "The hunt for international legitimacy: Examining the relationship between internationalization, state ownership, location and CSR reporting of Russian firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5).
    9. Kottaridi, Constantina & Louloudi, Konstantina & Karkalakos, Sotiris, 2019. "Human capital, skills and competencies: Varying effects on inward FDI in the EU context," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 375-390.
    10. Manuel Branco & Lúcia Rodrigues, 2006. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Resource-Based Perspectives," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 111-132, December.
    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. Ans Kolk & François Lenfant, 2013. "Multinationals, CSR and Partnerships in Central African Conflict Countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(1), pages 43-54, January.
    13. Filip Beule & Haiyan Zhang, 2022. "The impact of government policy on Chinese investment locations: An analysis of the Belt and Road policy announcement, host-country agreement, and sentiment," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(2), pages 194-217, June.
    14. Chen, Charles J.P. & Li, Zengquan & Su, Xijia & Sun, Zheng, 2011. "Rent-seeking incentives, corporate political connections, and the control structure of private firms: Chinese evidence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 229-243, April.
    15. Noorbakhsh, Farhad & Paloni, Alberto & Youssef, Ali, 2001. "Human Capital and FDI Inflows to Developing Countries: New Empirical Evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1593-1610, September.
    16. Sea-Jin Chang & Jay Hyuk Rhee, 2011. "Rapid FDI expansion and firm performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(8), pages 979-994, October.
    17. Adhikari, Ajay & Derashid, Chek & Zhang, Hao, 2006. "Public policy, political connections, and effective tax rates: Longitudinal evidence from Malaysia," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 574-595.
    18. Paul T. M. Ingenbleek & Domenico Dentoni, 2016. "Learning from Stakeholder Pressure and Embeddedness: The Roles of Absorptive Capacity in the Corporate Social Responsibility of Dutch Agribusinesses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-18, October.
    19. Chang, Yuyuan & Pan, Xiaofei & Wang, Jianling & Zhou, Qing, 2021. "Depoliticization and corporate cash holdings: Evidence from the mandated resignation of directors in China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    20. Liu, Xiaohui & Lu, Jiangyong & Chizema, Amon, 2014. "Top executive compensation, regional institutions and Chinese OFDI," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 143-155.
    21. Ari Van Assche & Sarianna Lundan, 2020. "From the editor: COVID-19 and international business policy," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(3), pages 273-279, September.
    22. Danny Miller & Jangwoo Lee & Sooduck Chang & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller, 2009. "Filling the institutional void: The social behavior and performance of family vs non-family technology firms in emerging markets," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(5), pages 802-817, June.
    23. Claessens, Stijn & Djankov, Simeon & Lang, Larry H. P., 2000. "The separation of ownership and control in East Asian Corporations," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1-2), pages 81-112.
    24. Shao, Xu, 2020. "Chinese OFDI responses to the B&R initiative: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    25. Jiatao Li & Ari Van Assche & Lee Li & Gongming Qian, 2022. "Foreign direct investment along the Belt and Road: A political economy perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(5), pages 902-919, July.
    26. Xiao, Fenglong & Chan, Ann Ling-Ching & Chen, Vincent Y.S., 2023. "Board political connections and tradeoff between market and nonmarket advantages: Evidence from corporate financial information disclosure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    27. Jiang, Guoliang Frank & Jung, Jae C. & Makino, Shige, 2020. "Parent Firm Corporate Social Responsibility and Overseas Subsidiary Performance: A Signaling Perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(6).
    28. Zheng, Qinqin & Luo, Yadong & Maksimov, Vladislav, 2015. "Achieving legitimacy through corporate social responsibility: The case of emerging economy firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 389-403.
    29. Li, Jiatao & Liu, Bin & Qian, Gongming, 2019. "The belt and road initiative, cultural friction and ethnicity: Their effects on the export performance of SMEs in China," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(4), pages 350-359.
    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. Jiatao Li & Ari Van Assche & Xiaolan Fu & Lee Li & Gongming Qian, 2022. "The Belt and Road Initiative and international business policy: A kaleidoscopic perspective," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(2), pages 135-151, June.
    2. Panicker, Vidya Sukumara & Georgiadou, Elena & Hodgkinson, Ian R., 2024. "Generous to a fault: Differential impact of CSR investments on financial gains in Indian market multinationals," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    3. Xiaodong Teng & Kun-Shan Wu & Lopin Kuo & Bao-Guang Chang, 2023. "Investigating the double-edged sword effect of environmental, social and governance practices on corporate risk-taking in the high-tech industry," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 511-549, June.
    4. Bu, Maoliang & Xu, Liang & Tang, Ryan W., 2023. "MNEs’ transfer of socially irresponsible practices: A replication with new extensions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    5. Zhang, Zhongqingyang & Zhu, Huiming & Zhou, Zhongbao & Zou, Kai, 2022. "How does innovation matter for sustainable performance? Evidence from small and medium-sized enterprises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 251-265.
    6. Luo, Jinbo & Liu, Qigui, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility disclosure in China: Do managerial professional connections and social attention matter?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    7. Feng Liu & Hui Lin & Huiying Wu, 2018. "Political Connections and Firm Value in China: An Event Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(2), pages 551-571, October.
    8. Popli, Manish & Raithatha, Mehul & Ahsan, Faisal Mohammad, 2021. "Signaling behavioral intent through better governance: A study of emerging market multinational enterprises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 697-710.
    9. Hua Zhu & Kent Ngan-Cheung Hui & Yuanyuan Gong, 2023. "Uncovering the nonmarket side of internationalization: the Belt and Road Initiative and Chinese firms’ CSR reporting quality," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1703-1731, December.
    10. Yuanyuan Huang & Lu Shen & Chuang Zhang, 2022. "Home-country government support, the belt and road initiative, and the foreign performance of Chinese state-owned subsidiaries," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 1023-1049, September.
    11. Sihai Li & Huiying Wu & Xianzhong Song, 2017. "Principal–Principal Conflicts and Corporate Philanthropy: Evidence from Chinese Private Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 141(3), pages 605-620, March.
    12. Leonidas C. Leonidou & Svetla T. Marinova & Marin A. Marinov & Jonas S. Eduardsen & Pantelitsa P. Eteokleous, 2024. "An Enquiry into MNEs’ CSR Practices: Literature Assessment, Managerial Implications, and Academic Perspectives," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 64(5), pages 759-809, October.
    13. Bin Liu & Qingtao Wang, 2022. "Speed of China’s OFDIs to the Belt and Road Initiative destinations: State equity, industry competition, and the moderating effects of the policy," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(2), pages 218-235, June.
    14. Chauhan, Yogesh & Kumar, Surya B., 2018. "Do investors value the nonfinancial disclosure in emerging markets?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 32-46.
    15. Luis Alfonso Dau & Randall Morck & Bernard Yin Yeung, 2021. "Business groups and the study of international business: A Coasean synthesis and extension," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(2), pages 161-211, March.
    16. Muttakin, Mohammad Badrul & Monem, Reza M. & Khan, Arifur & Subramaniam, Nava, 2015. "Family firms, firm performance and political connections: Evidence from Bangladesh," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 215-230.
    17. Jongmoo Jay Choi & Hoje Jo & Jimi Kim & Moo Sung Kim, 2018. "Business Groups and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(4), pages 931-954, December.
    18. Ourvashi Bissoon, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility in Mauritius: an analysis of annual reports of multinational hotel groups," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, December.
    19. Fiaz Ahmad Sulehri & Saba Sharif, 2022. "The Impact of Firm Sustainability on Firm Growth: Evidence from USA," Journal of Policy Research (JPR), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 8(2), pages 1-15, August.
    20. Francesco Gangi & Antonio Meles & Eugenio D'Angelo & Lucia Michela Daniele, 2019. "Sustainable development and corporate governance in the financial system: Are environmentally friendly banks less risky?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 529-547, May.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8712-:d:1157952. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.