Seeking Moral Legitimacy through Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Multinationals

Recently, concerns have been raised as to how Chinese multinational companies (MNCs) can achieve organizational legitimacy and sustainable development in host countries, especially given China’s weak institutional environment. One strategic approach establish maintain is by promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR). This study examined the relationship between manufacturing MNCs’ engagement terms of CSR gaining moral whether distance countries an important moderating factor this relationship. Using a hierarchical regression analysis bootstrapping method on data obtained from 303 questionnaires completed sample MNCs, paper finds that at both aggregate disaggregate levels (specifically, customer- community-related engagement) likely be effective strategy for subsidiaries gain countries. Furthermore, are more means government-related when China greater. Overall, contributes our understanding MNCs The findings support shaping their international businesses.