The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on the Company’s Financial Performance

Abstract

This article empirically evaluates the impact of CSR behaviour on the financial indicators of 286 companies from Brazil, Russia, India, and China over six years from 2013 to 2018. Company information and CSR ratings were retrieved from the Bloomberg and RobetaSAM databases, and hypotheses were proposed based on a literature review. We constructed
various analytical models that differ in dependent variables to better evaluate of distinct CSR metrics through different regression methods. Analyzed factors include: (1) the presence of women on the board; (2) the presence of a company in CSR ratings, and (3) various cultural aspects of the society where companies operate.

Our results support the conclusions of related research in this field of study. Among other consequences, our analysis indicates that CSR significantly influences financial performance, although this is also contingent on external factors. A company’s presence in the CSR rating scale has a more substantial impact on profitability and market capitalization indicators
than the actual score itself. CSR information disclosure has some effect on ROA and ROE, and the presence of women in the board of Directors showed a slight positive effect on market capitalization. Further, a high level of ‘power distance’ (i.e. the ostensible alienation of the general citizenry from political authority sources) in the society where company operates
harms the relationship between the rating score and financial performance.