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Srinivasan 2014
Srinivasan 2014
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Sudha Srinivasan
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S. Sudha*
*
Doctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Econometrics, University of Madras, Tholkappiar Campus,
Chepauk, Chennai, India Zip code– 600 005.
________________________________________________________________
Abstract
The objective of shareholder wealth maximization on the one hand, and societal welfare on
the other, often seem conflicting than complimenting. There has been an on-going debate in
research literature pertaining to the nature of relationship between corporate social
responsibility (CSR) and corporate financial performance (CFP) as the empirical results have
been inconsistent and mixed in various country contexts. Particularly, there is dearth of
empirical research in this area in emerging market economies. Extracting a purposive
sample from the Indian S&P 500 companies, listed on the National Stock Exchange of India
(NSE), who have obtained a CSR rating for the year 2010, this study empirically examines the
value relevance of CSR on the share prices of the companies controlling for major variables
that impact firm value. The cross-sectional multivariate ordinary least squares regression
estimates evidence that CSR has a significant positive relationship on the share price of the
firm implying that companies who have exhibited a superior CSR performance have been
valued higher than those who have an inferior CSR performance.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Firm Value, Ordinary Least Squares Regression,
Stock Market, Sustainability Strategy.
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viz, NGOs, citizens, Government, method used for the analysis. Section 5
corporate etc. Their on-line website presents the empirical results and the final
www.karmayog.org publishes CSR ratings section concludes.
of top 500 Indian companies based on 2. Theoretical Background And
various non-financial parameters (see Hypothesis
Appendix I) and Indian researchers have McGuire et al. (1988) extensively
been using the same (Bedi, 2009 ; Tewari, provided different scholarly views
2010) to capture CSR performance. pertaining to the theoretical framework
However, there is dearth of studies in the regarding the relationship between CSR
Indian context that have used empirical and CFP. Scholars who have suggested an
model to test the relationship between inverse relationship between CSR and
CSR( using CSR ratings) and stock market CFP (Aupperle et al., 1985) have based
based CFP measure and specifically, their arguments on the additional costs
examine whether the stock market values being incurred by firms on environmental
higher, those firms with a ‘high’ CSR compliance, charity contributions,
rating than those with a ‘low’ CSR rating. community development etc., thereby,
Hence, this research paper identifies establishing CSR activities as
differences in firm characteristics between uneconomical. Other scholars
companies with ‘High’ CSR performance (Moskowitz, 1972; Spicer, 1978) who
with that of companies that have shown a have evidenced positive relationship
‘Low’ CSR performance and attempts to between CSR and CFP theorise that a
analyse the direction and magnitude of the company enjoys multiple benefits (due to
impact of CSR performance on the firm goodwill generated by CSR) like customer
value of selected S&P 500 Indian listed loyalty, employee retention, improved
firms quoted on the National Stock relationships with the bankers,
Exchange of India (NSE) that have government, institutional investors and
obtained a CSR rating. therefore, a higher market value. Nurn
The remainder of the paper is organised as and Tan (2010) have identified the
follows. Section 2 describes the intangible benefits of CSR on firms, viz,
theoretical background and states the attracting better employees, enhancement
hypothesis. Section 3 reviews empirical of employee commitment and productivity
studies on CSR-CFP linkage. Section 4 that consequently result in reduction of
explains the methodology comprising of operating costs leading to improved
data, empirical model, variables and financial performance. Ultimately, it is
the modern stakeholder theory that gives firm’s resources but also the other
this inter-disciplinary research an stakeholders like customers, government
appropriate theoretical framework. and society with whom the firm has made
2.1 Stakeholder Theory implicit contracts. For example, customers
The stakeholder theory established by expect good quality product/service from
Freeman (1984) requires a company to not the firm; government expects proper
only satisfy the shareholders’ (the owners) adherence of environmental regulations by
interest but also the interest of other firms and firm’s sensitivity to social
stakeholder groups. The stakeholder responsibility. Socially irresponsible
approach is further analysed by Clarkson actions of firms may spill over to other
(1995) who categorizes stakeholders into implicit stakeholders and give rise to
primary stakeholders and secondary distrust in their perception towards the
stakeholders. Primary stakeholders firm’s capacity to honour their claims
comprise of shareholders and investors, (McGuire et al., 1988). Thus, the theory
employees, customers and suppliers, contends that firms with a perception of
governments and communities. Further, it high CSR may have low-cost implicit
is emphasized that managers should not claims compared to the other firms, and
attempt to maximise returns to therefore, have higher financial
shareholders at the expense of other performance. Hence, it is posited that
primary stakeholder groups. Doing so, CSR rating exerts a significant positive
will eventually lead to withdrawal of that influence on the firm value. In this study,
stakeholder group from the system and the share price is used as a proxy to capture
very survival of the firm will be in firm value. Hence, the following
jeopardy. As a consequence, a holistic hypothesis is formulated:
corporate sustainability performance has H1: Corporate social responsibility exerts a
given rise to corporate social responsibility significant positive impact on the share
(CSR) obtaining a prominent position in price of the firm.
the corporate strategy formulation. The 3. Review Of Empirical Studies
modern stakeholder theory (Cornell and Past empirical studies analysing CSR-CFP
Shapiro, 1987) states that the value of a linkage have used varied measures for
firm depends on the cost of explicit as well capturing CSR as well as CFP.
as implicit claims. This means that, it is Accordingly, the method of estimation
not merely the shareholders, bondholders also varies. Studies using either
and employees who are claimants of the accounting-based CFP measures, viz.,
intensity. The authors concluded that In the Indian context, Bedi (2009) has
CSR has a neutral effect on the firm explored the relationship between CSR
financial performance. Rigorously (captured as corporate social expenditure)
analysing through a meta-analysis of and financial performance using cross-
33,878 observations, Orlitzky et al. (2003) sectional OLS regression. Using data of
documented that there is a positive 37 companies belonging to the top 1000
association between CSR and CFP across companies of India during the financial
industries and across study contexts. In year 2007-08, the study has found that
the Australian context, Brine et al. (2007) there is a positive relationship between
analysed 277 firms listed in the Australian CSR and financial performance. Tewari
stock exchange during 2005 using cross- (2010), using the Karmayog CSR ratings
sectional OLS regression, with ROA, ROE and information disclosed in the annual
and ROS as dependent variables regressed reports of companies, has made a
on CSR (captured as a dummy variable) comparative analysis of top five
and did not obtain statistically significant companies of five industry sectors (viz.,
relationship between CSR and CFP. Steel, Cement, Oil, Banking and IT
Assuming environmental performance as sectors) in respect of their CSR
one of the critical components of CSR, involvement. Singh and Pachar (2012)
Sinkin et al. (2008) analysed the impact of have conducted an exploratory study
eco-efficiency (captured as eco-efficiency gathering primary data on stakeholders’
rating) on the firm value in the US context perception about CSR policy and its
using the Ohlson (1995) model. The impact on financial issues in the
sample firms were categorised as ‘eco- organization and find that CSR is
efficient’ and ‘not eco-efficient’, based on positively related to financial performance.
certain qualitative criteria. Share price In a doctoral dissertation, Tyagi (2012) has
was used as the dependent variable and the examined critical factors of CSR and its
independent variables being book value of impact on CFP and competitiveness using
equity, earnings per share and an indicator a sample of Indian firms and documented
variable for eco-efficiency. The study that the three major drivers of CSR in
reports that eco-efficient firms have India are financial health, competency and
consistently higher market values than the stakeholder satisfaction.
sample of ‘non eco-efficient firms’. 4. Methodology
4.1 Data and Initial Analysis
SPit = α+ a1EPSit + a2BVit + β1Vit + ηit asserted that the change in the value of a
SPit is the Share Price, i.e, firm value ratio between the market price of its shares
EPSit is the earnings per share and their book value. In order to avoid
Vit is the vector of other value-relevant Firm Size are used as control variables in
Observing the impact of other explanatory be inferred that the Indian stock market is
variables, it is evident that the impact of efficient enough to readily absorb the
earnings per share and price-to-book ratio information on non-financial performance
on the market value are positive and parameters such as, CSR and factor the
statistically significant at 1% level of same into the share price of the firm.
significance. For one INR increase in the Further research could look into bi-
earnings, the share price would increase by directional causality between CSR-CFP
INR 21.432. For one unit increase in relationship as it is evidenced from this
price-to-book ratio, the share price would study that financially stronger and larger
increase by 45.358 units. The coefficient companies have obtained high CSR rating
of R&D intensity, though positive, is as compared to the reference category.
statistically insignificant. The sign of the Issues such as CSR-CFP relationships are
coefficient of firm size is negative, which better analysed through panel data
is unexpected. It is concluded that the analysis. However, unavailability of
positive, statistically significant impact of longitudinal data being the major
CSR on CFP supports the hypothesis H1. limitation of this study, the study has
Hence, this study documents that CSR has restricted to cross-sectional analysis of
a significant positive effect on CFP, data pertaining to the year 2010 only. The
conforming to the results of Ghosh (2013). limitations with respect to small sample
6. Conclusion And Implications and Karmayog CSR rating also applies to
Exploring the relationship between this study (for e.g, companies
corporate social responsibility and manufacturing tobacco-based products get
corporate financial performance, the study a ‘zero’ rating irrespective of a slew of
hypothesised that CSR will exert a CSR activities undertaken by them).
significant positive impact on the firm
The findings of this study have major
value. Empirical results of this study have
corporate and policy implications with
demonstrated that, companies exhibiting
respect to CSR reporting and disclosure.
high level of CSR are valued higher in the
There is a need to standardise social
Indian stock market than those that are
disclosures and make sustainability audit
exhibiting low level of CSR. Therefore, it
and reporting statutory. This will facilitate
does pay to be a good corporate citizen in
the capital markets to further discipline the
an emerging market economy- India.
corporate sector and nurture socially
Since the study has used market-based
responsible investing (SRI). As Indian
measure of financial performance, it could
capital markets are exhibiting reasonable of the board consisting of three or more
sensitivity to CSR parameters, CSR, directors, out of which at least one director
should form an integral part in the shall be an independent director. Indian
formulation of corporate strategy and in companies are required to spend at least
commercial decision-making. 2% of the average net profits of the
Nevertheless, the role of the Ministry of immediately preceding three years on CSR
Corporate Affairs in making CSR activities and report the same to the
investments mandatory through ministry. This is a good move in the
amendments in the Companies Act, 2013 direction of CSR standardisation and
is commendable. Accordingly, every disclosure and a win-win situation for,
company having net worth of rupees five corporate entities can undoubtedly reap
hundred crore or more, or turnover of rich rewards through high level of CSR,
rupees one thousand crore or more or a net simultaneously contributing for a better
profit of rupees five crore or more during society and greener earth for future
any financial year shall constitute a generations.
corporate social responsibility committee
References
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Table 1: t-test statistics for difference of means between High-CSR rated and
low-CSR rated categories of companies
Models
Variables 1 2 3 4
*** *** *** ***
EPS 21.521 21.594 21.606 21.432
(16.7) (15.7) (15.61) (16.09)
PBRATIO 48.545*** 48.082*** 47.857*** 45.358***
(3.21) (3.09) (3.06) (3.01)
FSIZE -9.049 -13.797 -66.058
(-0.16) (-0.25) (-1.13)
R&DI 2016.667 3594.114
0.67 1.21
CSRR 358.935**
(2.21)
*
Intercept -155.722 -55.41 -23.458 269.425
(-1.68) (-0.09) (-0.04) 0.44
2
Adj R 86.10% 85.90% 85.70% 86.80%
N 52 52 52 52
Note: *** Significant at 1% level, ** Significant at 5% level
often what is termed as “social banking” is base and business, and is also part of the
just a simple extension of the customer priority sector lending that is mandatory.
Appendix II
Karmayog CSR rating (Highest with rating of ‘5’ to lowest with rating of ‘0’) of top 500
companies in the year 2010 (according to Dun and Bradstreet): Source:
www.karmayog.org/csr2010/index.htm accessed on 04/11/2012
No. of
Karmayog CSR Rating 2010 Companies %
Level 5 (highest) 0 0
Level 4 12 2
Level 3 66 13
Level 2 161 32
Level 1 148 30
Level 0 (lowest) 113 23
Total 500 100