Research Briefs

Longer-term cultures and greater economic freedom correlate to more progressive CSR programs.

RESEARCH BRIEF - The number of women on boards has a positive impact on disclosure of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, but only when there is at least three or more women directors on the board.

Positive ESG scores do not necessarily correlate to superior ESG performance. Identifying companies that have a long-term view on environmental transition and risk management is key to alignment of performance with ESG ratings.

Operating contexts with higher levels of environmental regulation or customer expectations are the strongest drivers of environmental innovation. Organizational characteristics, such as the use of environmental management systems can also make a difference.

Well-aligned corporate citizenship practices can smooth cultural integration after mergers and acquisitions.

RESEARCH BRIEF - While women directors are more likely than men to hold positions on multiple boards, there is still work to be done to assure that women directors are positioned to influence firm governance.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Consumers judge corporate citizenship actions more favorably when they are framed in positive and comparative terms employing euphemisms that offer clues about the operating context.

RESEARCH BRIEF - LGBTQ+ workplace equality policies enhance a firm’s ability to detect nuanced insights about customers, which results in higher customer satisfaction. However, this can vary depending on the stability of demand among customers.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Companies committed to corporate citizenship and a low-carbon future should avoid “outsourcing” carbon emissions by acquiring foreign firms headquartered in low-regulation countries—as firms that do so are more likely to be penalized in the stock market.

RESEARCH BRIEF - People who volunteer regularly have better health and well-being outcomes compared to those who do not volunteer.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Having existing emissions commitments, in addition to company and country-level factors, plays a role in whether government environmental policies reduce emissions at a company.

RESEARCH BRIEF - Voluntary approaches to promote gender diversity on boards (i.e., corporate governance codes), increase women directors’ access to information within a network of other directors. Binding legislation (i.e., gender quotas), increase the likelihood that individual women will act as unique bridges between peers, which heightens their control over information and power within those networks.