Corporate social responsibility and knowledge capital: does corporate social responsibility promote accumulating knowledge capital?

This study investigated the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the accumulation of knowledge capital, investment in research and development (R&D), and financial performance. The empirical results revealed that CSR engagement can enhance the accumulation of knowledge capital and R&D investment. Nonetheless, engaging in external CSR, disclosing CSR-related information, and having third-parties authenticate CSR reports is important to avoid agency problems and greenwashing. It is also important that firms establish internal CSR-related policies and measures governing environmental protection and employee and supplier rights to ensure innovative development, the accumulation of knowledge capital, and R&D investment. The resources invested in knowledge capital, R&D, or CSR promotion can negatively impact profitability; however, these effects were shown not to dampen investors’ optimism about future competitive advantage or financial performance.