Title: Board political influence and corporate social responsibility: evidence from Jordan

Authors: Khaldoon Ahmad Al Daoud; Buthiena Kharabsheh

Addresses: Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Yarmouk University, Jordan ' Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Yarmouk University, Jordan

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between board political influence and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Jordan. To achieve this objective, an index from 36-items was created by the researchers to measure the CSR activities of these companies. Using a panel dataset of 210 firm-year observations of industrial firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange over a four-year period (2014-2018), the findings showed significantly improved positive CSR activities by boards with greater political influence, also that implementation of CSR activities was strongly enhanced by external block holder presence on the board, whereas insider ownership showed mixed results and CEO ownership appeared negative; however, director ownership was highly positive and significant under both CSR measures. Furthermore, board independence had a negative impact on corporate CSR. The findings of the present study expand our understanding of the relationship between political influence and CSR activities, using various theories to explain particular theoretical associations.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility; CSR; political influences; board of directors; Amman Stock Exchange; ASE; Jordan.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2022.120002

Global Business and Economics Review, 2022 Vol.26 No.1, pp.1 - 19

Received: 04 Feb 2021
Accepted: 11 May 2021
Published online: 04 Jan 2022 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article