Financial Performance: The Role of Corporate Governance and CSR Across Firm Sizes and Industries in India

  • Authors

    • Ramakrishna Vuppuluri Research Scholar, Department of Commerce, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
    • Abhishek Pandey Assistant Professor, Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
    https://doi.org/10.14419/9g09c067

    Received date: June 12, 2025

    Accepted date: June 12, 2025

    Published date: June 13, 2025

  • Corporate Governance; Corporate Social Responsibility; Factor Analysis; Regression Analysis; ‎Financial Performance
  • Abstract

    Present research explores the complex interplay between "Corporate Governance (CG)", "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)" as well as "Corporate Financial Performance (CFP)" in Indian firms with a specific focus on the moderating roles of firm size and industry type. Recognizing the increasing stakeholder expectations and regulatory pressures, the research investigates whether CG and CSR—individually and interactively—enhance financial outcomes. Drawing on agency and stakeholder theories, the study develops CG and CSR indices from the annual report disclosures of 55 companies across various industries and a composite financial performance index (CFPI) through factor analysis. Findings reveal that while CG alone does not significantly impact CFP, CSR represents a strong positive association and partially mediates the CG-CFP relationship. The analysis reveals that CSR’s impact is more pronounced in mid-sized firms and select industries such as FMCG and automobile. These findings have important implications for accounting practices, suggesting that CG mechanisms enhance financial transparency indirectly through CSR pathways. The study contributes to emerging market literature by proposing an integrated model of CG–CSR–CFP and recommending alignment with evolving ESG and financial reporting standards.

  • References

    1. Aggarwal, P. (2023). Corporate governance and firm performance: Evidence from Indian companies. Journal of Management and Governance, 27(1), 131–157.
    2. Ahmed, S., and Manab, N. A. (2024). The impact of corporate governance on firm performance: A study of Malaysian listed companies. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 24(1), 56–74.
    3. Ali, M., and Ullah, M. A. (2023). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: Evidence from emerging economies. Sustainability, 15(4), 3245.
    4. Ameer, R., and Othman, R. (2012). Sustainability practices and corporate financial performance: A study based on the top global corporations. Journal of Business Ethics, 108, 61–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-1063-y
    5. Arora, A., and Sharma, C. (2024). Corporate governance and firm performance in India: Evidence from panel data analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 185(2), 361–379.
    6. Bae, S. M., Masud, M. A. K., and Kim, J. D. (2023). A cross-country analysis of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance. Sustainability, 15(6), 5123.
    7. Brammer, S., Brooks, C., and Pavelin, S. (2006). Corporate social performance and stock returns: UK evidence from disaggregate measures. Financial Management, 35(3), 97–116. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-053X.2006.tb00149.x
    8. Chen, Y. C., and Chen, H. H. (2024). The impact of corporate governance on firm value: Evidence from Taiwan. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 74, 101908.
    9. Cheng, B., Ioannou, I., and Serafeim, G. (2023). Corporate social responsibility and access to finance. Strategic Management Journal, 44(1), 131–158.
    10. Cho, S. J., Chung, C. Y., and Young, J. (2024). Corporate social responsibility and firm value: A comparative study of the U.S. and Korea. Sustainability, 16(2), 1234.
    11. Coelho, R., Ferreira, J. J., Braga, V., and Correia, A. (2023). The impact of social responsibility on corporate financial performance: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 382, 135277.
    12. Dang, C., Li, Z. F., and Yang, C. (2023). Measuring firm performance using corporate social responsibility ratings. Journal of Corporate Finance, 70, 102083.
    13. Dechow, P. M., Ge, W., and Schrand, C. M. (2010). Understanding earnings quality: A review of the proxies, their determinants and their consequences. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50(2–3), 344–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2010.09.001
    14. Fauzi, F., and Locke, S. (2024). Board structure, ownership structure and firm performance: A study of New Zealand listed firms. Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance, 20(1), 35–55.
    15. Giannarakis, G., Konteos, G., and Sariannidis, N. (2023). The impact of corporate social responsibility on financial performance: Evidence from Greece. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 20(1), 58–69.
    16. Harjoto, M. A., and Laksmana, I. (2024). The impact of corporate social responsibility on risk management and firm value. Journal of Business Ethics, 186(3), 493–516.
    17. Hasan, I., Kobeissi, N., Liu, L., and Wang, H. (2023). Corporate social responsibility and firm financial performance: The mediating role of productivity. Journal of Business Ethics, 184(2), 347–365.
    18. Istan, M. (2024). The impact of good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility on corporate value: The moderating role of financial performance. Journal of Logistics, Informatics and Service Science, 11(2), 202–204. https://doi.org/10.33168/JLISS.2024.0213
    19. Javed, M., Rashid, M. A., and Hussain, G. (2024). The effects of corporate social responsibility on company financial performance: A stakeholder approach. Sustainability, 16(4), 3456.
    20. Kim, Y., Park, M. S., and Wier, B. (2023). Is earnings quality associated with corporate social responsibility? The Accounting Review, 98(1), 363–395.
    21. Lee, S., and Jung, H. (2024). The effects of corporate social responsibility on firm performance: A meta-analysis. Management Decision, 62(1), 131–157.
    22. Li, F., Li, T., and Minor, D. (2023). CEO power, corporate social responsibility, and firm value: A test of agency theory. Journal of Banking and Finance, 135, 106363.
    23. Liu, X., and Zhang, C. (2024). Corporate governance and environmental performance: Evidence from Chinese listed companies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 315, 128912.
    24. Maqbool, S., and Zameer, M. N. (2023). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: An empirical analysis of Indian banks. Future Business Journal, 9(1), 1–12.
    25. Nguyen, P., and Nguyen, A. (2024). Corporate governance and firm performance: Empirical evidence from Vietnam. Research in International Business and Finance, 57, 101419. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2024.2334128
    26. Oh, W. Y., Chang, Y. K., and Jung, R. (2023). Board diversity and corporate social responsibility: An empirical analysis of U.S. firms. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 30(1), 278–290.
    27. Platonova, E., Asutay, M., Dixon, R., and Mohammad, S. (2024). The impact of corporate social responsibility disclosure on financial performance: Evidence from the GCC Islamic banking sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 187(2), 351–377.
    28. Qiu, Y., Shaukat, A., and Tharyan, R. (2023). Environmental and social disclosures: Link with corporate financial performance. The British Accounting Review, 55(2), 100935.
    29. Reverte, C., Gómez-Melero, E., and Cegarra-Navarro, J. G. (2024). The influence of corporate social responsibility practices on organizational performance: Evidence from eco-responsible Spanish firms. Journal of Cleaner Production, 316, 128999.
    30. Saeidi, S. P., Sofian, S., Saeidi, P., Saeidi, S. P., and Saaeidi, S. A. (2015). How does corporate social responsibility contribute to firm financial performance? The mediating role of competitive advantage, reputation, and customer satisfaction. Journal of Business Research, 68(2), 341–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2014.06.024
    31. Sial, M. S., Zheng, C., Cherian, J., Gulzar, M. A., Thu, P. A., Khan, T., and Khuong, N. V. (2023). Does corporate social responsibility mediate the relation between boardroom gender diversity and firm performance of Chinese listed companies? Sustainability, 15(1), 432.
    32. Singh, P. K., Gupta, D., Kumar, R., Sunder, R. G., and Das, B. K. (2024). Empirical investigation of relationship between CSR and financial performance: Study of Tata companies. In E. Shaikh and K. Singh (Eds.), Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Governance and Business Ethics in Tourism Management: A Business Strategy for Sustainable Organizational Performance (pp. 119–135). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83608-704-520241009
    33. Surroca, J., Tribó, J. A., and Waddock, S. (2024). Corporate responsibility and financial performance: The role of intangible resources. Strategic Management Journal, 45(2), 463–490. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.820
    34. Ullah, S., Akhtar, P., Akhtar, F., Saeed, A., and Zaefarian, G. (2024). Corporate governance, financial performance, and economic policy uncertainty in emerging Asian economies. PLOS ONE, 19(1), e03122925. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312292
    35. Velte, P. (2023). Meta-analysis on the relationship between CSR and financial performance: Does it pay to be good? Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment, 13(1), 153–182.
    36. Wang, Z., and Sarkis, J. (2024). Corporate social responsibility governance, outcomes, and financial performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 317, 129083.
    37. Yoon, B., and Chung, Y. (2023). The effects of CSR activities on innovation in the restaurant industry: Focusing on the mediating role of corporate reputation and customer satisfaction. Sustainability, 15(3), 2134.
    38. Yuliusman, Y., and Kusuma, H. (2020). Good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosure on firm value: Empirical study on Indonesia Stock Exchange. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 13(1), 139–153.
    39. Zahid, M., Rahman, H. U., Ali, W., Khan, M., Alharthi, M., Qureshi, M. I., and Jan, A. (2022). Linking green human resource management practices to environmental performance through pro-environmental behavior: A mediated mechanism. Journal of Cleaner Production, 365, 132587.
    40. Zhang, D., Morse, S., and Kambhampati, U. (2024). Evolving corporate social responsibility in China: A longitudinal study of leading 100 companies. Sustainability, 16(5), 4567.
    41. Zhu, Q., Liu, J., and Lai, K. H. (2016). Corporate social responsibility practices and performance improvement among Chinese national state-owned enterprises. International Journal of Production Economics, 171, 417–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2015.08.005
  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Vuppuluri, R., & Pandey, A. . (2025). Financial Performance: The Role of Corporate Governance and CSR Across Firm Sizes and Industries in India. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 12(2), 130-137. https://doi.org/10.14419/9g09c067