The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure on Corporate Reputation: A Non-professional Stakeholder Perspective

Anastasia Axjonow (), Jürgen Ernstberger () and Christiane Pott ()
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Anastasia Axjonow: TU Dortmund University
Jürgen Ernstberger: Technical University of Munich
Christiane Pott: TU Dortmund University

Journal of Business Ethics, 2018, vol. 151, issue 2, No 9, 429-450

Abstract: Abstract This paper examines the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure on corporate reputation as perceived by non-professional stakeholders. Proponents of CSR disclosure argue that CSR disclosure can be considered as a tool for reputation management. We empirically investigate this claim using a reputation index which tracks the general public’s perceptions of corporate reputation over time. In our analysis, we focus on disclosure in stand-alone CSR reports and control for CSR performance. We find that, in contrast to the common belief, stand-alone CSR reports do not influence corporate reputation among non-professional stakeholders. However, we are able to document that stand-alone CSR reports influence corporate reputation among professional stakeholders. We also provide some evidence that transparent CSR disclosure on corporate websites can influence corporate reputation among non-professional stakeholders.

Keywords: Corporate reputation; Corporate social responsibility disclosure; Non-professional stakeholders’ perceptions; Professional stakeholders; Voluntary disclosure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L14 M14 M41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (32)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3225-4

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