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The mediating role of natural and social resources in the corporate social responsibility—corporate financial performance relationship

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  • Piotr Ratajczak

Abstract

Failure to obtain definitive results regarding the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on corporate financial performance (CFP) has prompted scholars to investigate mechanisms behind this relationship. This paper follows the same path and distinguishes two dimensions of CSR (social and environmental) to expand the pool of potential mediators on the basis of natural‐ and social resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm. In a unique dataset comprising seven potential mediators for 300 companies, a direct relationship only existed between environmental CSR and CFP, in contrast to the “new road” from social CSR to CFP that goes through external reputation and innovativeness—variables that form an opposing mediation.

Suggested Citation

  • Piotr Ratajczak, 2021. "The mediating role of natural and social resources in the corporate social responsibility—corporate financial performance relationship," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(1), pages 100-119, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:42:y:2021:i:1:p:100-119
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.3216
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    2. Sonia Boukattaya & Zyed Achour & Zeineb Hlioui, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Financial Performance: An Empirical Literature Review," Post-Print hal-03472433, HAL.
    3. Shantanu Dutta & Supriya Katti & B. V. Phani & Pengcheng Zhu, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility spending as a building block for sustainable corporate ethical identity: Lessons from Indian business groups," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 696-717, April.
    4. María D. López‐Gamero & José F. Molina‐Azorín & Jorge Pereira‐Moliner & Eva M. Pertusa‐Ortega, 2023. "Agility, innovation, environmental management and competitiveness in the hotel industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 548-562, March.
    5. Cao Thi Mien Thuy & Nguyen Vinh Khuong & Nguyen Thi Canh & Nguyen Thanh Liem, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure and Financial Performance: The Mediating Role of Financial Statement Comparability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-15, September.
    6. Jiafeng Gu, 2023. "Firm Performance and Corporate Social Responsibility: Spatial Context and Effect Mechanism," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, January.

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