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Getting into the energy efficiency scene: does corporate social responsibility matter for energy efficiency in SMEs?

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  • Issam Laguir
  • Rébecca Stekelorum
  • Jamal Elbaz
  • David Duchamp

Abstract

A growing body of literature argues that improving energy efficiency is an essential step that firms must take to mitigate climate change issues. It is assumed that corporate social responsibility (CSR) in general plays a prominent role in firms’ policies, and this paper specifically investigates the effects of the individual CSR dimensions on SMEs’ energy efficiency improvement. Based on data from a sample of 146 thousand SMEs, and using logit model, and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, the study reveals that high activities in social, environmental and economic CSR dimensions are associated with high energy efficiency. Specifically, the environmental CSR dimension has the highest contribution to improving energy efficiency. Furthermore, this study indicates that energy efficiency improvement can be achieved by large SMEs provided they have developed simultaneously the environmental, social, and economic CSR dimensions. In doing so, this study answers to recent calls for more research on CSR-energy efficiency relationship and addresses with greater precision why it matters to relate the role of the CSR dimensions and energy efficiency. Furthermore, this study can be of value to policymakers who are called to promote CSR practices of SMEs in order to foster their energy efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Issam Laguir & Rébecca Stekelorum & Jamal Elbaz & David Duchamp, 2019. "Getting into the energy efficiency scene: does corporate social responsibility matter for energy efficiency in SMEs?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(47), pages 5191-5204, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:51:y:2019:i:47:p:5191-5204
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2019.1610719
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Szemerédi, Eszter & Jóna, László, 2024. "Vállalati energiahatékonyság a gyakorlatban. Egy magyarországi kismintás elemzés tanulságai [Corporate energy efficiency in practice. Lessons from a small sample analysis in Hungary]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(10), pages 1079-1099.
    2. José Manuel Maside‐Sanfiz & Óscar Suárez Fernández & María‐Celia López‐Penabad & Mohammad Omar Alzghoul, 2024. "Does corporate social performance improve environmentally adjusted efficiency? Evidence from the energy sector," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1510-1530, May.
    3. Stekelorum, Rebecca & Laguir, Issam & ElBaz, Jamal, 2020. "Can you hear the Eco? From SME environmental responsibility to social requirements in the supply chain," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Cunha, Paulo & Neves, Sónia Almeida & Marques, António Cardoso & Serrasqueiro, Zélia, 2020. "Adoption of energy efficiency measures in the buildings of micro-, small- and medium-sized Portuguese enterprises11The financial support of the NECE - Research Unit in Business Science and Economics, ," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Hsu, Bo-Xiang & Chen, Yi-Min, 2023. "The relationship between corporate social responsibility, external orientation, and environmental performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

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