Using R&D and advertising intensity to measure a firm's differentiation strategy, this study examines whether charitable giving substitutes or complements such a differentiation strategy. Evidence from a nationwide survey of private small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) across China...

In this study, using a behavioral agency perspective, we argue that corporate philanthropy (CP) may be affected by CEOs’ career disruption concern. If predecessor had a quick dismissal (with short tenure), incumbent CEO may be concerned that s/he may not stay in office for a long enough time...

In this study, we draw on the stakeholder salience theory to argue that corporate philanthropy (CP) may be used as employee governance tool, but it may depend on employee diversity in gender. We propose that, because women are more sensitive to CP than men, firms with greater proportion of...

MNEs face a complex institutional environment when doing business in the international market. As a result, MNEs adopt strategies to deal with the institutional pressures. However, present studies seldom discuss the institutional environment of a given country, specifically China. Therefore, the...

This paper investigates if firms under high institutional pressure donate more to disaster relief than firms under lower institutional pressure. By taking Chinese listed companies' donations to May 12, 2008 Wenchuan earthquake as the sample, this research finds that large firms and firms who...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how firms compete with each other in philanthropic giving in the context of a natural disaster. In particular, the authors want to investigate: Which firms act faster in disaster relief giving? How do late movers react? In the end, which...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical framework to explain why corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity leads to different consumers' responses, especially why, in some cases, CSR activity might backfire on the company. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a...

Purpose – Given the country‐specific characteristics of corporate social responsibility (CSR), there is an increasing interest in studying CSR in developing countries. Such studies play an important role in broadening people's knowledge of CSR under different economic, social and cultural...