Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Performance: Evidence from an Emerging Market

This study focuses on the relationship between firm performance and corporate social responsibility (CSR) of firms listed on Borsa Istanbul during the period of 2009-2011. We use content analysis of annual reports/websites of Turkish firms for any socially responsible activities. We find a negative relationship between CSR and financial performance, meaning that firms which disclose more information about CSR initiatives in their annual reports have a lower return on assets. After controlling for debt and size of the firms, we further find that while highly levered firms are less profitable, larger firms have higher profits. Finally, we do not find any significant relationships between research and development expenditures and financial performance.