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Corporate Social Responsibility of the Financial Sector – Strengths, Weaknesses and the Impact on Sustainable Development

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  • Olaf Weber
  • Michael Diaz
  • Regina Schwegler

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study analyses the performance of the financial sector with respect to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Because this sector has a strong influence economically and on sustainable development, both risk management issues and stakeholder pressure drive the financial sector into a more sustainable direction. In contrast to polluting sectors, the financial sector does not affect the environment and society by direct emissions or the use of resources like other industries. To compare the financial sector with other sectors regarding their sustainability performance, we analyzed the performance in the fields of sustainability reporting, business ethics and product responsibility, labor issues, environmental performance, community issues, and corporate governance. The study is based on more than 1800 firms including 400 organizations from the financial sector. We link CSR to sustainability and define it as corporate self‐regulation in order to manage sustainability risks and opportunities. The results suggest that financial sector performance is relatively low regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) in general. Weaknesses of the financial sector with regard to CSR are reporting, business ethics and product responsibility, and labor issues. Strengths of the financial sector regarding CSR can be located with respect to community relations. Further research is needed with respect to the factors influencing CSR performance. It is still not clear what influences regulations, stakeholder pressure or potential financial benefits have on sustainability performance in the financial sector. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Olaf Weber & Michael Diaz & Regina Schwegler, 2014. "Corporate Social Responsibility of the Financial Sector – Strengths, Weaknesses and the Impact on Sustainable Development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(5), pages 321-335, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:22:y:2014:i:5:p:321-335
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    1. Simona Cosma & Paola Schwizer & Lorenzo Nobile & Rossella Leopizzi, 2021. "Environmental attitude in the board. Who are the “green directors”? Evidences from Italy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3360-3375, November.
    2. Kishore Kumar & Ajai Prakash, 2020. "Managing sustainability in banking: extent of sustainable banking adaptations of banking sector in India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 5199-5217, August.
    3. Olaf Weber & Rezaul Karim Chowdury, 2020. "Corporate Sustainability in Bangladeshi Banks: Proactive or Reactive Ethical Behavior?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Xing Chen & Bert Scholtens, 2018. "The urge to act: A comparison of active and passive socially responsible investment funds in the United States," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(6), pages 1154-1173, November.
    5. Kishore Kumar & Ajai Prakash, 2019. "Examination of sustainability reporting practices in Indian banking sector," Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Li, Weihao & Hu, Hongbing & Hong, Zekun, 2024. "Green finance policy, ESG rating, and cost of debt——Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. Ekpeyong, Paul & Adewoyin, David, 2023. "Financial development, taxation and economic growth in sub-sahara africa," MPRA Paper 117739, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Salome Zimmermann, 2019. "Same Same but Different: How and Why Banks Approach Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-20, April.
    9. Markus Riegler, 2023. "Towards a definition of sustainable banking - a consolidated approach in the context of guidelines and strategies," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-26, December.
    10. Thanita Buranatrakul & Fredric William Swierczek, 2018. "Climate Change Strategic Actions in the International Banking Industry," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 19(1), pages 32-47, February.
    11. Iman M Arafa Mohamed & Wafaa Salah, 2016. "Investigating corporate social responsibility disclosure by banks from institutional theory perspective," Journal of Administrative and Business Studies, Professor Dr. Usman Raja, vol. 2(6), pages 280-293.
    12. Samantha Herbert & Peter Bradley & Mark Everard, 2023. "Exploring the prioritisation of biodiversity amongst small‐ to medium‐sized enterprise leaders with strong bigger‐than‐self value orientation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5633-5649, December.
    13. Peter Norberg, 2018. "Bankers Bashing Back: Amoral CSR Justifications," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 401-418, January.
    14. Eliwa, Yasser & Aboud, Ahmed & Saleh, Ahmed, 2021. "ESG practices and the cost of debt: Evidence from EU countries," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    15. Kathleen Krause & Dirk Battenfeld, 2019. "Coming Out of the Niche? Social Banking in Germany: An Empirical Analysis of Consumer Characteristics and Market Size," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 889-911, March.
    16. Christopher Lim, 2019. "The Impact of Social Variables on Financial Performance," Proceedings of the 12th International RAIS Conference, April 3-4, 2019 2CL, Research Association for Interdisciplinary Studies.
    17. Theodosios Anagnostopoulos & Antonis Skouloudis & Nadeem Khan & Konstantinos Evangelinos, 2018. "Incorporating Sustainability Considerations into Lending Decisions and the Management of Bad Loans: Evidence from Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, December.

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