Selected demographic determinants of CSR, financial & environmental management and business ethics in SMEs

Research background: Small and medium-sized enterprises are at the heart of the business environment in every country. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the environmental aspect and, in many cases, corporate social responsibility. In this context, business ethics is also a widely discussed topic. At the same time, financial management is one of the critical areas of business management. These aspects can be influenced by various demographic factors related to the company, as well as by the business owners or managers. Purpose of the article: The objective of this paper is to examine the influence of selected demographic factors on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), financial management, environmental practices, and business ethics in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Methods: The empirical research was carried out as part of a broad-based research that aimed to ascertain the attitudes of small and medium-sized firms. It was conducted in June 2022 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic using the CAWI Research Method. The questionnaire could be completed by the owner or the top manager of the SME. The questionnaire was secured against automatic computer completion. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyse the characteristics of the variable, and regression (LRM) and correlation analysis methods were applied to find statistically significant differences in the influence of each independent factor. Findings & Value added: The analysis suggests interesting differences in how demographic factors influence ethics, CSR, environment and financial management in the Czech and Slovak Republics. In general, the impacts of these factors on these areas are very weak. The results showed that firm size influences SMEs' attitudes towards the environment, financial management and CSR in all countries combined. The other independent variables of the sector, such as length of business and age, do not affect attitudes towards ethics, environment, CSR, or financial management. We can generalise that in the conditions of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, among demographic criteria, only firm size plays a significant role in determining the attitudes of SME managers.