기업의 사회적 책임활동(CSR) 관련 연구들에 대한 검토 및 향후 연구방향

This study reviews the literature on CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) in accounting and provides suggestions of future research. The literature can be classified into four categories: (1) the determinants of CSR. (2) the performance of CSR. (3) the relationship between CSR and accounting transparency. (4) the measurement and disclosure of CSR. The determinants of CSR are the company’s internal and external factors such as internal capability, corporate governance, and external environment. The determinants of CSR include internal capability such as debt ratio, cash flow, profitability, productivity, advertising expenses, training expenses; governance structure such as controlling ownership, manager, institutional ownership, foreign ownership, outside director; external factors such as characteristics of industry, visibility, competitor, NGO, consumer, supplier, creditor, regulation, tax policy, community, employee. Empirical results for the relationship between CSR and economic performance differ among countries. Empirical research is determined according to a firm’s characteristics and financial condition. CSR have a different impact on a firm’s performance according to the tool of economic performance(for example, profitability, firm value) for the CSR. Empirical results for the relationship between CSR and accounting transparency differ among countries. Prior studies suggest successful methodology to dertermine materiality will need to address common issues and challenges, and set up a new concept in the context of sustainability reporting. Several suggestions have been provided for future research. For example, strategy variables and adjustment costs can be introduced in finding the determinant of CSR. The analysis of CSR performance need to employ the stakeholder theory and the multi-dimensional approach may contribute to the validity of the analysis, which should be carefully measured.