A Systematic Literature Review on Ownership and Corporate Social Responsibility in Family Firms

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has developed rapidly in recent years, and scholars have called for a more comprehensive picture of CSR research in family firms. In response to the call, this study conducts a systematic literature review of CSR activities in family firms from an important but understudied perspective: ownership. In addition to showing the divergent effects of ownership on family firm CSR, this research also reveals multiple mediating mechanisms and moderators for the above relationship and family ownership as a boundary condition for the relationships between family firm CSR and outcomes. Theories and methodological issues in past research are analyzed, and limitations and future research directions are also proposed.