Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: An empirical evidence

Abstract

Since the 1960s, researchers have looked at the correlation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and bottom-line results. Within the European Union’s (EU’s) trade territory, CSR became a legal obligation. Canadian businesses interested in international expansion would benefit from learning more about the income opportunities presented by investments in strategic, sustainable business models. A quantitative longitudinal correlational strategy was used for the exploratory investigation. Sustainalytics, a prominent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research agency in the sector, compiled the CSR rankings. The rankings were based on the following four criteria: Overall score, governance, social justice, and environment. All Canadian corporations’ financial data were stored in the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR). To conduct multiple linear regressions on 61 observations spanning fiscal years 2009–2017, secondary data were collected and imported into Microsoft Excel 2013. The designs illustrate the interplay between the Toronto Stock Exchange’s (TSX’s) fundamental industries and how CSR relates to revenues from markets outside of Canada. The results showed a strong correlation between adopting CSR strategies and income from markets outside the country. The research found that their financial performance improved when companies adopted CSR practices. Policymakers and business executives in Canada who are considering the possibility of a free trade agreement with the EU may find this helpful report.