Analyses & Alternatives (분석과 대안)

Korea Consensus Institute(KCI) (사단법인 코리아컨센서스연구원)
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The Effect of Political Connections of Chinese Firms on CSR Activities: The Mediating Effect of Government Subsidies

중국 상장기업의 정치적 연계가 CSR 활동에 미치는 영향: 정부 보조금의 매개효과

  • Received : 2023.04.17
  • Accepted : 2023.04.28
  • Published : 2023.06.30
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Abstract

This study examines the impact of political connections of Chinese listed firms on CSR(Corporate Social Responsibilities) activities. Firms recognize the political connections as 'non-market strategy' and actively utilize various benefits obtained through them for management activities. In order to utilize these political connections, there is a need for firms to implicitly perform the government's social policy obligations in return for their benefits. In particular, CSR activities in China are one of the government-led social policies unlike in the West, and the government wants firms to solve social problems through active CSR activities. In this background, this study empirically verifies whether firms with political connections are actively carrying out CSR activities required by the government from 2013 to 2019. As a result, Chinese listed firms with political connections have a positive effect on CSR activities. Especially, those with political connections with central government carry out both government benefits and social policy obligations.

본 연구는 중국 상장기업의 정치적 연계(political connections)가 기업의 사회적 책임(Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR) 활동에 미치는 영향을 확인하고 있다. 기업은 정치적 연계를 '비시장 전략(non-market strategy)'으로 인지하여, 이를 통해 획득한 다양한 혜택을 경영 활동에 적극적으로 활용하고자 한다. 반면에 이러한 정치적 연계를 활용하고자 하는 기업은 그 혜택에 대한 대가로 정부의 사회 정책적인 의무를 수행해야 할 필요성이 제기된다. 특히, 중국 정부는 기업이 CSR 활동을 통하여 산재되어 있는 사회문제를 적극적으로 해소해주기를 원하고 있다. 이에 따라 정치적 연계를 통하여 정부로부터 경영상의 혜택을 획득하고자 하는 기업은 적극적인 CSR 활동을 통하여 정부의 요구를 수용하고 있다는 신호를 보낼 필요성이 제기된다. 이러한 환경에서 본 연구는 기업의 정치적 연계가 정부가 요구하는 CSR 활동을 수행하는 요인으로 작용하는지를 2013년부터 2019년까지 중국 전체 상장기업을 대상으로 실증적인 검증을 한다. 분석 결과, 중앙정부와 정치적 연계를 지닌 기업을 중심으로 CSR 활동에 긍정적인 영향을 주는 것을 보여준다. 또한, 이러한 관계에서 정부 보조금이 매개효과로 작용하면서, 중앙정부와 정치적 연계가 있는 기업은 정부로부터 혜택을 얻는 것과 동시에 정부의 사회 정책적인 의무를 모두 수행하고 있는 것을 의미한다.

Keywords

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