How does analyst coverage influence corporate social responsibility (CSR)? The governance- and information-based perspectives

PLoS One. 2024 Apr 29;19(4):e0302165. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302165. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Based on a sample of Chinese public manufacturing firms, this study empirically investigates whether and how analyst coverage drives corporate social responsibility (CSR) under different governance or information conditions. The results show that firms with greater analyst coverage take more social responsibility, representing magnified concerns and better CSR visibility for legitimacy and reputation. This relationship could be strengthened under high governance condition (high institutional ownership ratio, none CEO duality, low executive ownership) or low information situation (high earnings management and low accounting conservatism). These findings provide new evidence of information-based mechanism underlying the promotions of CSR in imperfect information environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Humans
  • Ownership
  • Social Responsibility*

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Belt and Road National Audit Research Center of Nanjing Audit University (No. A2010560013 to XH Du). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.