Political directors and corporate social responsibility: Are political ideology and regional identity relevant?

Abstract

This study analyzes the infuence of directors with political connections on corpo‑ rate social responsibility (CSR). Using a sample of Spanish savings banks (cajas) during the period 2004–2013, we analyze the infuence of political directors on the CSR of these entities, focusing on their ideology and regional identity. Our results indicate that the higher the proportion of directors with political ties on the board, the greater the allocation of resources to CSR activities. In addition to this positive efect of board politicization, we fnd that political directors’ liberal ideology posi‑ tively afects CSR, both directly and in moderating the relationship between political directors and CSR. Our results also validate that political directors’ regional iden‑ tity boosts the positive efect they have on CSR. Finally, we encounter various dif‑ ferences depending on the nature of the projects funded through CSR. Therefore, our study demonstrates the importance of delving into the characteristics of political directors to elucidate their efects on corporate policies.