AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PROFITABILITY.

Abstract

Although there has been considerable research into the relationship between corporate social responsibility and profitability, it has frequently reflected either an ideological bias or limited methodological procedures. Research has also been impeded by the difficulty of adequately measuring corporate social responsibility. This study, using an elaborate, forced-choice instrument administered to corporate CEOs, did not find any relationship between social responsibility and profitability. Specifically, varying levels of social orientation were not found to correlate with performance differences.