IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/eaiere/v20y2023i1d10.1007_s40844-022-00247-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Japanese firms address the issues of environment, society, and governance: a corporate governance perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Mitsuharu Miyamoto

    (Senshu University)

  • Hiroatsu Nohara

    (Aix Marseille University, CNRS, LEST)

Abstract

Interest in environment, society, and governance (ESG) issues has increased in accordance with the growth of ESG-related investment. Until recently, however, interest remained low in Japan, which is unexpected, since Japanese firms have been characterized by stakeholder-oriented corporate governance. Thus, this study examined how Japanese firms address ESG issues, focusing on the corporate governance structure comprised of internally promoted managers, foreign shareholders, and independent directors. Using corporate-level raw data from 1522 listed firms from 2009 to 2016, this study shows that both internal managers and foreign shareholders promote ESG engagement from the consideration of corporate performance, whereas independent directors promote it from the consideration of stakeholder interests. Our empirical research exhibits that independent directors in Japanese firms have a dual function to represent shareholder and stakeholder interests.

Suggested Citation

  • Mitsuharu Miyamoto & Hiroatsu Nohara, 2023. "How Japanese firms address the issues of environment, society, and governance: a corporate governance perspective," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 25-46, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eaiere:v:20:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s40844-022-00247-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s40844-022-00247-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40844-022-00247-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s40844-022-00247-3?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 look for a different version below or search for a different version of it.

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gregory Jackson & Julia Bartosch & Emma Avetisyan & Daniel Kinderman & Jette Steen Knudsen, 2020. "Mandatory Non-financial Disclosure and Its Influence on CSR: An International Comparison," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 323-342, March.
    2. ., 2001. "Corporate Governance in Islamic Banking," Chapters, in: Islamic Banking, chapter 7, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. 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.
    4. Aoki, Masahiko, 2010. "Corporations in Evolving Diversity: Cognition, Governance, and Institutions," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199218530.
    5. Tirole, Jean, 2001. "Corporate Governance," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 69(1), pages 1-35, January.
    6. Ryo Kambayashi & Takao Kato, 2017. "Long-Term Employment and Job Security over the Past 25 Years," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 70(2), pages 359-394, March.
    7. Gregory Jackson & Virginia Doellgast & Lucio Baccaro, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Labour Standards: Bridging Business Management and Employment Relations Perspectives," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(1), pages 3-13, March.
    8. Gregory Jackson & Androniki Apostolakou, 2010. "Corporate Social Responsibility in Western Europe: An Institutional Mirror or Substitute?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(3), pages 371-394, July.
    9. Mari Sako & Katsuyuki Kubo, 2018. "Professionals On Corporate Boards In Japan: How Do They Affect The Bottom Line?," Working Papers halshs-01770191, HAL.
    10. Maretno Harjoto & Indrarini Laksmana & Robert Lee, 2015. "Board Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(4), pages 641-660, December.
    11. Di Giuli, Alberta & Kostovetsky, Leonard, 2014. "Are red or blue companies more likely to go green? Politics and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(1), pages 158-180.
    12. Maretno Harjoto & Hoje Jo, 2011. "Corporate Governance and CSR Nexus," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 100(1), pages 45-67, April.
    13. KATO Takao & KODAMA Naomi, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Gender Diversity in the Workplace: Evidence from Japan," Discussion papers 16063, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    14. Mitsuharu Miyamoto, 2016. "Diversification of Japanese firms: how hybrid organizations evolved through corporate governance reform," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 121-149, 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. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    2. Amin, Abu & Chourou, Lamia & Kamal, Syed & Malik, Mahfuja & Zhao, Yang, 2020. "It’s who you know that counts: Board connectedness and CSR performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    3. David C. Broadstock & Shunsuke Managi & Roman Matousek & Nickolaos G. Tzeremes, 2019. "Does doing “good” always translate into doing “well”? An eco‐efficiency perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(6), pages 1199-1217, September.
    4. Cheng Xiang & Fengwen Chen & Paul Jones & Senmao Xia, 2021. "The effect of institutional investors’ distraction on firms’ corporate social responsibility engagement: evidence from China," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1645-1681, August.
    5. Sakkakom Maneenop & Chaiyuth Padungsaksawasdi & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2024. "Co‐opted board, environment, social and governance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1161-1172, February.
    6. Kim, Hyun-Dong & Kim, Taeyeon & Kim, Yura & Park, Kwangwoo, 2019. "Do long-term institutional investors promote corporate social responsibility activities?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 256-269.
    7. Zhou, Gaoguang, 2022. "Good for managers, bad for shareholders? The effects of lone-insider boards on excessive corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 370-383.
    8. Mitsuharu Miyamoto, 2016. "Diversification of Japanese firms: how hybrid organizations evolved through corporate governance reform," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 121-149, June.
    9. Atreya Chakraborty & Lucia S. Gao & Prianka Musa, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and litigation risk: Evidence from securities class action lawsuits," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 1785-1819, June.
    10. Alexandra ZBUCHEA & Florina PÎNZARU, 2017. "Tailoring CSR Strategy to Company Size?," Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, College of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, vol. 5(3), pages 415-437, September.
    11. Champagne, Claudia & Coggins, Frank & Sodjahin, Amos, 2022. "Can extra-financial ratings serve as an indicator of ESG risk?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    12. Krüger, Philipp, 2015. "Corporate goodness and shareholder wealth," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(2), pages 304-329.
    13. Anagnostopoulou, Seraina C. & Tsekrekos, Andrianos E. & Voulgaris, Georgios, 2021. "Accounting conservatism and corporate social responsibility," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(4).
    14. Ucar, Erdem & Staer, Arsenio, 2020. "Local corruption and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 266-282.
    15. Ormazabal, Gaizka, 2018. "The Role of Stakeholders in Corporate Governance: A View from Accounting Research," CEPR Discussion Papers 12775, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    16. Yoshida, Kenichi & Iino, Yoshiaki & Managi, Shunsuke, 2022. "Do Japanese keiretsu promote better CSR activities?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 452-475.
    17. El Ghoul, Sadok & Guedhami, Omrane & Wang, He & Kwok, Chuck C.Y., 2016. "Family control and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 131-146.
    18. Rui Coelho & Shital Jayantilal & Joao J. Ferreira, 2023. "The impact of social responsibility on corporate financial performance: A systematic literature review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1535-1560, July.
    19. Ding, Wenzhi & Levine, Ross & Lin, Chen & Xie, Wensi, 2021. "Corporate immunity to the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 802-830.
    20. Danni Chen & Xue Chen & Huiying Sun, 2023. "Does corporate social responsibility protect shareholder value from the shock of COVID‐19? Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 3077-3094, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESG/CSR; Independent directors; Foreign shareholdings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:spr:eaiere:v:20:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s40844-022-00247-3. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.