Review article
https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2017.1313122
Corporate social responsibility and financial performance relationship: a review of measurement approaches
Adriana Galant
Simon Cadez
Abstract
The relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and
corporate financial performance (CFP) has been subject to extensive
empirical enquiry. Yet the body of evidence that has accumulated about
the nature of the relationship is equivocal. A commonly identified
reason for the diverse and contradictory results is measurement issues
pertaining to both concepts of interest. This article aims to review
alternative operationalisations and measurement approaches for
the CSR and CFP concepts that have been deployed in empirical
literature concerned with the CSR–CFP relationship. Several findings
emanate from our study. First, CSR operationalisations in empirical
literature range from multidimensional to one-dimensional. Second,
CSR measurement approaches include reputation indices, content
analyses, questionnaire-based surveys and one-dimensional measures,
whereas CFP measurement approaches include accounting-based
measures, market-based measures and combined measures. Third,
no CSR measurement approach is without drawbacks. In addition
to approach specific drawbacks, two problems inherent in most
approaches are researcher subjectivity and selection bias that may
influence the nature of CSR–CFP relationship detected in empirical
literature. Finally, potential pathways to remedy these drawbacks are
suggested.
Keywords
Corporate social responsibility (CSR); financial performance; stakeholders; corporate social accounting; CSR measurement
Hrčak ID:
182553
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2017.
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