The Impact of Corporate Social Performance on Financial Risk and Utility: A Longitudinal Analysis

Ioannis Oikonomou, Chris Brooks and Stephen Pavelin

ICMA Centre Discussion Papers in Finance from Henley Business School, University of Reading

Abstract: This study focuses on the wealth-protective effects of socially responsible firm behaviour by examining the association between corporate social performance (CSP) and financial risk for an extensive panel data sample of S&P 500 companies between the years 1992 and 2009. In addition, the link between CSP and investor utility is investigated. The main findings are that corporate social responsibility is negatively but weakly related to systematic firm risk and that corporate social irresponsibility is positively and strongly related to financial risk. The fact that both conventional and downside risk measures lead to the same conclusions adds convergent validity to the analysis. However, the risk-return trade-off appears to be such that no clear utility gain or loss can be realized by investing in firms characterized by different levels of social and environmental performance. Overall volatility conditions of the financial markets are shown to play a moderating role in the nature and strength of the CSP-risk relationship.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility; CSR; CSP; Financial Risk; Utility Measures; Panel Data; S&P 500. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C33 G32 M14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-10
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Impact of Corporate Social Performance on Financial Risk and Utility: A Longitudinal Analysis (2012)
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