CEO Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between CEO ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility by focusing on the mediating role of organizational ethical culture and the moderating role of managerial discretion (i.e., CEO founder status and firm size). Based on a sample of 242 domestic Chinese firms, we found that CEO ethical leadership positively influences corporate social responsibility via organizational ethical culture. In addition, moderated path analysis indicated that CEO founder status strengthens while firm size weakens the direct effect of CEO ethical leadership on organizational ethical culture and its indirect effect on corporate social responsibility. Theoretical and managerial implications of these results are discussed.