Do owner-manager demographics in SMEs matter for corporate social responsibility?

Gentjan Cera, Khurram Ajaz Khan, Andrea Bláhová and Jaroslav Belas, Jr.
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Khurram Ajaz Khan: Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czechia
Andrea Bláhová: Institute of Technology and Business in Èeské Budìjovice, Czechia
Jaroslav Belas, Jr.: Alexander Dubcek University in Trencin, Slovakia

Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, 2022, vol. 17, issue 2, 511-531

Abstract: Research background: According to the EU agenda, CSR should be considered an integral element of the current organizational strategy, including SMEs. While the debate continues about the optimal approach for successful CSR adaptation in SME, yet there is a need to shed light on the impact of owner-manager’s demographics on CSR practices. Purpose of the article: The paper aims to examine whether owner-manager’s demographics (age, gender, education) matter for the implementation of CSR or not. Methods: The study is based on a questionnaire filled in by owner-managers of SMEs operating in Czechia (454) and Slovakia (368). Factor analysis and nonparametric methods are used to test the hypotheses. Findings & value added: This study shows that the relationships between CSR and owner-manager’s demographics are not alike between Slovakia and Czechia. Compared to owners, the evidence shows that the Czech managers are more oriented toward the CSR practices, while in Slovakia there is no difference. Such finding can be explained by Hofstede culture difference. In addition, analysis demonstrates that female Slovaks are more oriented to CSR than men, while it is not true in Czechia. Moreover, Czech individuals who graduated in the same field as their business are more oriented to the CSR, whereas in Slovakia this is not. In addition, young and old Slovak entrepreneurs are more oriented to the CSR than those 35-55 years old, manifesting a U-shape type of relationship. The originality of this work is manifested by the fact that it enriches the literature since it is among the first studies to analyze the relationships between owner-manager’s demographics and CSR in the SME segment for Czechia and Slovakia.

Keywords: CSR; corporate social responsibility; owner; manager; SMEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 M14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pes:ierequ:v:17:y:2022:i:2:p:511-531

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