The effect of corporate social responsibility practices on digital transformation in China: A resource-based view

Companies need to consider corporate social responsibility (CSR) as they seek to achieve digital transformation. However, scholars know little about whether CSR can "feed" digital transformation. We argue that engaging in CSR can improve a firm's resource base in terms of human, financial, and technological resources, thereby contributing to the development of digital transformation. Using data from A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020, we test our hypothesis and find that CSR facilitates digital transformation of firms and that the effect is persistent. Mechanism tests show that CSR promotes digital transformation only by improving firms' human and technological resources. In addition, the facilitating role of CSR is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. This study enriches the literature on the relationship between CSR and digital transformation.