Corporate governance, home country governance, and MNE CSR: Evidence from Ghana

• Published in: Emerging markets review Vol. 59; p. 101112
• Main Authors: Tenakwah, Emmanuel Junior, Chen, Junxin, Ying, Sammy Xiaoyan, Li, Yongqing, Wu, Huiying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Corporate governance; CSR; Multinational enterprise; National governance; CSR; Corporate governance; Multinational enterprise; National governance
• ISSN: 1566-0141
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2024.101112

This study examines how the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in Ghana is affected by home country governance and corporate governance. Using data manually collected from a sample of MNEs from 2010 to 2018, we find that (1) MNE CSR is positively affected by home country governance; and (2) the positive effect of home country governance is strengthened by the subsidiary's board independence but not by board gender diversity. Our additional analyses show that MNEs from better governed home countries are more likely to establish CSR foundations and that CSR foundations have positive impact on MNE CSR. This study contributes to the literature on MNE CSR by providing empirical evidence from Ghana, where MNEs play an increasingly important role but scholars have paid little attention to what drives corporate giants to help address the country's social issues. •We find that MNE CSR is positively affected by home country governance.•Home country governance is enhanced positively by corporate governance mechanisms.•MNEs from better governed countries are more likely to establish CSR foundations.•The CSR foundations have positive impact on MNE CSR.