Unveiling the nexus between corporate social responsibility, industrial integration, economic growth and financial constraints under the node of firms sustainable performance

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR), industrial integration, and economic growth in realising financial constraints using firm’s level attributes of sustainable performance. In doing so, this study utilised annual data of 555 Chinese real estate firms from 2015 to 2019 and applied a spatial effect model (SEM) to integrate spatial effects. This study also used two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and two-stage least square (2SLS) methods to deal with possible endogeneity. Manifestly, we have constructed a mathematical derivation framework based on linear algebra and offer easy computing Moran's index. The preliminary results revealed that CSR, industrial integration, and economic growth reduce financial constraints of listed real estate companies in China. However, these effects are not persistent at different stages of development. The findings of Moran index describe that the early and growth stages of CSR instigate financial constraints while the mature stage of CSR produces inhibitory effects that reduce financial constraints. Notably, these effects also varied across different regions. This outcome offers valuable policy recommendations.