IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i2p582-d1566228.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Moral Imperative or Economic Necessity? The Role of Institutional Investors in the Corporate Social Responsibility—Financial Performance Relationship

Author

Listed:
  • Jihwan Yeon

    (The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea)

  • Hyoung Ju Song

    (Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32819, USA)

  • Bora Kim

    (Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH, UK)

Abstract

This study examines how institutional ownership concentration, quantified by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), influences the financial consequences of CSR initiatives within the U.S. restaurant industry. This study distinguishes between CSR activities that are integral to core operations (operation-related CSR) and those that are not (non-operation-related CSR), analyzing their impacts on both market-based (ROA) and accounting-based performance (Tobin’s q) measures. Employing panel regression analysis, findings reveal that higher institutional ownership concentration enhances the alignment of operation-related CSR with improved financial performance. Conversely, the institutional ownership concentration does not significantly moderate the impact of non-operation-related CSR on both performance measures. Given the restaurant industry’s high consumer visibility and operational reliance on social and environmental factors, this study fills gaps in CSR literature by offering insights for aligning CSR strategies with institutional owners’ expectations. The results provide actionable guidance for policymakers and industry practitioners to optimize organizational outcomes from CSR activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jihwan Yeon & Hyoung Ju Song & Bora Kim, 2025. "Moral Imperative or Economic Necessity? The Role of Institutional Investors in the Corporate Social Responsibility—Financial Performance Relationship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:582-:d:1566228
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/582/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/582/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lois Mahoney & Robin W. Roberts, 2007. "Corporate social performance, financial performance and institutional ownership in Canadian firms," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 233-253, September.
    2. Lammertjan Dam & Bert Scholtens, 2013. "Ownership Concentration and CSR Policy of European Multinational Enterprises," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 117-126, November.
    3. Lemma, Tesfaye T. & Negash, Minga & Mlilo, Mthokozisi & Lulseged, Ayalew, 2018. "Institutional ownership, product market competition, and earnings management: Some evidence from international data," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 151-163.
    4. Admati, Anat R & Pfleiderer, Paul & Zechner, Josef, 1994. "Large Shareholder Activism, Risk Sharing, and Financial Market Equilibrium," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 102(6), pages 1097-1130, December.
    5. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W, 1997. "A Survey of Corporate Governance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(2), pages 737-783, June.
    6. Stephen A. Rhoades, 1993. "The Herfindahl-Hirschman index," Federal Reserve Bulletin, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.), issue Mar, pages 188-189.
    7. Del Guercio, Diane, 1996. "The distorting effect of the prudent-man laws on institutional equity investments," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 31-62, January.
    8. Thomas H. Noe, 2002. "Investor Activism and Financial Market Structure," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 289-318, March.
    9. Khan, Raihan & Dharwadkar, Ravi & Brandes, Pamela, 2005. "Institutional ownership and CEO compensation: a longitudinal examination," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(8), pages 1078-1088, August.
    10. Amama Shaukat & Yan Qiu & Grzegorz Trojanowski, 2016. "Board Attributes, Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy, and Corporate Environmental and Social Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(3), pages 569-585, May.
    11. 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.
    12. Xu, Jia & Zeng, Shu & Qi, Shaozhou & Cui, Jingbo, 2023. "Do institutional investors facilitate corporate environmental innovation?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    13. 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.
    14. Joshua D. Angrist & Jörn-Steffen Pischke, 2009. "Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 8769.
    15. Aleksandra Kacperczyk, 2009. "With greater power comes greater responsibility? takeover protection and corporate attention to stakeholders," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 261-285, March.
    16. C. B. Ingley & N. T. Van Der Walt, 2004. "Corporate Governance, Institutional Investors and Conflicts of Interest," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(4), pages 534-551, October.
    17. Kang, Jun-Koo & Luo, Juan & Na, Hyun Seung, 2018. "Are institutional investors with multiple blockholdings effective monitors?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(3), pages 576-602.
    18. Richard A. Bettis & Vijay Mahajan, 1985. "Risk/Return Performance of Diversified Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(7), pages 785-799, July.
    19. Amir Barnea & Amir Rubin, 2010. "Corporate Social Responsibility as a Conflict Between Shareholders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(1), pages 71-86, November.
    20. Zhou, Taiyun & Liu, Mingxuan & Zhang, Xiyu & Qi, Zheng & Qin, Ni, 2024. "Does institutional ownership affect corporate social responsibility? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 84-98.
    21. Brickley, James A. & Lease, Ronald C. & Smith, Clifford Jr., 1988. "Ownership structure and voting on antitakeover amendments," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1-2), pages 267-291, January.
    22. Demsetz, Harold & Lehn, Kenneth, 1985. "The Structure of Corporate Ownership: Causes and Consequences," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 93(6), pages 1155-1177, December.
    23. Jahnke, Patrick, 2019. "Ownership concentration and institutional investors’ governance through voice and exit," Business and Politics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(3), pages 327-350, September.
    24. Patrick Velte, 2023. "Which institutional investors drive corporate sustainability? A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 42-71, January.
    25. Kangtao Ye & Ran Zhang, 2011. "Do Lenders Value Corporate Social Responsibility? Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 197-206, December.
    26. Gillan, Stuart L., 2006. "Recent Developments in Corporate Governance: An Overview," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 381-402, June.
    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. Sanja Pekovic & Sebastian Vogt, 2021. "The fit between corporate social responsibility and corporate governance: the impact on a firm’s financial performance," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 1095-1125, May.
    2. Patricia Crifo & Marc-Arthur Diaye & Rim Oueghlissi & Sanja Pekovic, 2016. "What drives firm's firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility: The role of ownership concentration," Post-Print hal-01410824, HAL.
    3. Byung-Seong Min & Peter Verhoeven, 2013. "Outsider Board Activity, Ownership Structure and Firm Value: Evidence from Korea," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 13(2), pages 187-214, June.
    4. Kiyoung Chang & Jean Kabongo & Ying Li, 2021. "Geographic proximity, long-term institutional ownership, and corporate social responsibility," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 297-328, January.
    5. García-Sánchez, Isabel-María & Aibar-Guzmán, Cristina & Aibar-Guzmán, Beatriz, 2020. "The effect of institutional ownership and ownership dispersion on eco-innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Patrick Velte, 2023. "Which institutional investors drive corporate sustainability? A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 42-71, January.
    7. Pursey Heugens & Marc Essen & J. Oosterhout, 2009. "Meta-analyzing ownership concentration and firm performance in Asia: Towards a more fine-grained understanding," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 481-512, September.
    8. Fengguang Lyu & Zhiping Zhang & Guangxin Fu & Zhangxin (Frank) Liu & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2024. "Multiple shareholding institutional investors and green governance of heavy‐polluting industries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3569-3587, May.
    9. Ahmed A. Sarhan & Basil Al‐Najjar, 2023. "The influence of corporate governance and shareholding structure on corporate social responsibility: The key role of executive compensation," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 4532-4556, October.
    10. Aziz Jaafar & Lynn Hodgkinson & Mao-Feng Kao, 2019. "Ownership Structure, Board of Directors and Firm Performance: Evidence from Taiwan," Working Papers 19011, Bangor Business School, Prifysgol Bangor University (Cymru / Wales).
    11. Abdalla Shwairef & Azlan Amran & Mohammad Iranmanesh & Noor Hazlina Ahmad, 2021. "The mediating effect of strategic posture on corporate governance and environmental reporting," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 349-378, February.
    12. Lily Qiu, 2004. "Which Institutional Investors Monitor? Evidence from Acquisition Activity," Yale School of Management Working Papers amz2497, Yale School of Management, revised 01 Jun 2006.
    13. Haeyoung Ryu & Soo-Joon Chae, 2021. "Family Firms, Chaebol Affiliations, and Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    14. Kong, Dongmin & Ji, Mianmian & Zhang, Fan, 2022. "Individual investors’ dividend tax reform and corporate social responsibility," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    15. Bryan Hong & Zhichuan Li & Dylan Minor, 2016. "Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation for Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(1), pages 199-213, June.
    16. Won-Yong Oh & Jongseok Cha & Young Kyun Chang, 2017. "Does Ownership Structure Matter? The Effects of Insider and Institutional Ownership on Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 111-124, November.
    17. Ducassy, Isabelle & Montandrau, Sophie, 2015. "Corporate social performance, ownership structure, and corporate governance in France," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 383-396.
    18. Kiyoung Chang & Ying Li & Ha‐Chin Yi, 2021. "Informed equity ownership and bank loan contracting," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(7-8), pages 1368-1403, July.
    19. Igor Filatotchev & Yung-Chih Lien & Jenifer Piesse, 2005. "Corporate Governance and Performance in Publicly Listed, Family-Controlled Firms: Evidence from Taiwan," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 257-283, September.
    20. Christian M. Faller & Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufseß, 2018. "Does Equity Ownership Matter for Corporate Social Responsibility? A Literature Review of Theories and Recent Empirical Findings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 15-40, June.

    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:17:y:2025:i:2:p:582-:d:1566228. 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.