To Glorify the Ancestors: How CEOs' Clan Values Affect Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract CEOs who develop strong clan values as a result of exposure to clan culture in early life wish to bring honor to their clan, motivating them to engage in increased CSR activities. We propose that the influence of CEOs' clan values on CSR is subject to contextual boundaries. Specifically, we predict that the positive relationship between CEOs' clan values and CSR results primarily in an improved level of institutional CSR and varies with CEOs' personal attributes such as overseas experience and hometown identity. An analysis of a longitudinal sample of Chinese publicly listed firms for 2010–2019 provides strong support for our predictions. The implications for upper echelons theory and CSR research are discussed.