Corporate social responsibility performance and information asymmetry: The moderating role of analyst coverage

Abstract The study investigates the moderating effect of analyst coverage on the relationship between corporate social responsibility performance and information asymmetry. Data for the period 2008–2018 encompass 208 listed firms from nine different sectors in China. The study employs the fixed effect regression to identify dynamic relationships. The findings suggest that firms engaged in corporate social responsibility activities confront a lower level of information asymmetry. The results also indicate that analyst coverage moderates the relationship between corporate social responsibility performance and information asymmetry and that analyst coverage may play an imperative role in reducing the level of information asymmetry for the firm. Our findings advance the understanding of the association between corporate social responsibility performance and information asymmetry with the moderating effect of analyst coverage. The study investigates the moderating effect of analyst coverage on the relationship between corporate social responsibility performance and information asymmetry. Data for the period 2008–2018 encompass 208 listed firms from nine different sectors in China. The study employs the fixed effect regression to identify dynamic relationships. The findings suggest that firms engaged in corporate social responsibility activities confront a lower level of information asymmetry. The results also indicate that analyst coverage moderates the relationship between corporate social responsibility performance and information asymmetry and that analyst coverage may play an imperative role in reducing the level of information asymmetry for the firm. Our findings advance the understanding of the association between corporate social responsibility performance and information asymmetry with the moderating effect of analyst coverage. Moreover, present study contributes to the corporate social responsibility practices in China, it provides a sound base for policymakers for adopting corporate social responsibility performance activities.