Research Article

The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul

Volume: 40 Number: 4 October 15, 2026
TR EN

The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul

Abstract

Today, the practices implemented by companies within the scope of environmental sustainability have become the focus of attention of investors and researchers within the scope of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This study was conducted to determine the impact of CSR on Corporate Financial Performance (CFP). For this purpose, data from companies traded on the Borsa Istanbul (Istanbul Stock Exchange) that have disclosed ESG scores between 2010 and 2020 were used. In the study, market-based financial measure (TOBIN’S Q) and accounting-based measure (ROA) were used as dependent variables. While the ESG score was used as the CSR indicator in the study, sales growth rate, property, plant, and equipment ratio, financial leverage, and dividend paid ratios were also considered control variables. The study findings indicate that CSR practices negatively impact market-based performance and have no significant impact on accounting-based performance. Using Turkey as an example, a developing country, the study emphasizes the importance of companies raising public awareness of their CSR efforts and policymakers supporting market participants through legal regulations. These results offer implications for individuals, investors, business management, societies, and policy practitioners and outline directions for future research.

Keywords

Istanbul Stock Exchange, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Financial Performance, Panel Data

Supporting Institution

This study did not receive funding from any governmental, commercial or non-profit organization.

Project Number

----

Ethical Statement

The study does not require ethics committee approval or informed consent.

References

  1. Ahn, S. C. & Schmidt. P. (1995). Efficient Estimation of Models for Dynamic Panel Data. Journal of Econometrics, 68(1), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4076(94)01641-c
  2. Aras, G., Aybars, A., & Kutlu, O. (2010). Managing corporate performance: ınvestigating the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in emerging markets. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 59(3), 229-235. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410401011023573
  3. Ateş, S. (2021). Kurumsal sosyal performansa piyasa tepkisi: BIST örneği. Muhasebe ve Finansman Dergisi, 90, 149-164. https://doi.org/10.25095/mufad.827626
  4. Bagh, T., Khan, M. A., Azad, T., Saddique, S., & Khan, M. A. (2017). The Corporate Social Responsibility and firms’ financial performance: evidence from financial sector of Pakistan. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 7(2), 301–308. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/365718
  5. Başar, A. B. (2014). Kurumsal sosyal sorumluluk raporlaması ve finansal performans arasındaki ilişki: Borsa İstanbul'da işlem gören kimya-petrol-plastik sektörü şirketleri üzerine bir araştırma. Journal of Management & Economics, 21(2), 59-72. https://doi.org/10.18657/yecbu.49833
  6. Blundell, R., Bond, S., & Windmeijer, F. (2001). Estimation in dynamic panel data models: improving on the performance of the standard GMM estimator, IFS Working Papers, No. W00/12, Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), London.
  7. Bulut Sürdü, F. & Özsözgün Çalışkan, A. (2020). Determinants of corporate social responsibility disclosure by Turkish insurance companies. Çağ University Journal of Social Sciences, 17(1), 53–64. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1175688
  8. Çam, İ. (2023). Kurumsal sosyal sorumluluk ve finansal başarısızlık: BİST’te bir uygulama. Abant Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 23(2), 923–938. https://doi.org/10.11616/asbi.1265554
  9. Deb, D. & De, A. (2019). Relationship of corporate social responsibility with the corporate performance of the Indian firms. International Journal of Social and Humanities Sciences, 3(1), 95–112. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/767863
  10. Demir, Y. & Konak, F. (2022). Türk Bankacılık Sektörü’nde kurumsal sosyal sorumluluk ve firma performansı. Karadeniz Ekonomi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(1), 1–23. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1823439
APA
Gürbüz, C. (2026). The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul. Trends in Business and Economics, 40(4), 691-703. https://doi.org/10.16951/trendbusecon.1809074
AMA
1.Gürbüz C. The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul. Trend Bus Econ. 2026;40(4):691-703. doi:10.16951/trendbusecon.1809074
Chicago
Gürbüz, Cennet. 2026. “The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul”. Trends in Business and Economics 40 (4): 691-703. https://doi.org/10.16951/trendbusecon.1809074.
EndNote
Gürbüz C (October 1, 2026) The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul. Trends in Business and Economics 40 4 691–703.
IEEE
[1]C. Gürbüz, “The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul”, Trend Bus Econ, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 691–703, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.16951/trendbusecon.1809074.
ISNAD
Gürbüz, Cennet. “The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul”. Trends in Business and Economics 40/4 (October 1, 2026): 691-703. https://doi.org/10.16951/trendbusecon.1809074.
JAMA
1.Gürbüz C. The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul. Trend Bus Econ. 2026;40:691–703.
MLA
Gürbüz, Cennet. “The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul”. Trends in Business and Economics, vol. 40, no. 4, Oct. 2026, pp. 691-03, doi:10.16951/trendbusecon.1809074.
Vancouver
1.Cennet Gürbüz. The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Financial Performance: The Evidence from Borsa Istanbul. Trend Bus Econ. 2026 Oct. 1;40(4):691-703. doi:10.16951/trendbusecon.1809074