How do perceived CPA and political CSR interact in their relationships with citizens’ trust in companies?
ISSN: 1747-1117
Article publication date: 24 August 2020
Issue publication date: 9 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
In the context of an industrial complex where corporate political activity (CPA) and political corporate social responsibility (political CSR) are not related, this study aims to investigate the possible relationship between citizens’ perceptions of these two non-market strategies and residents’ trust in companies located in the industrial complex.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 740 citizens living near a petrochemical complex in Tarragona (Spain). The results were analysed using structural equation modelling.
Findings
Based on institutional theory, the key findings of the study are that CPA and political CSR are differently related to citizens’ trust in companies. The results also verify that the negative relationship (between CPA and trust) outweighs the positive one (between political CSR and trust).
Practical implications
The lack of fit between political CSR and CPA in the complex analysed suggests that firms are neglecting approaches shared by these non-market strategies, and thus wasting a huge opportunity to improve citizens’ trust in and acceptance of the complex firms. Moreover, the ethical dimension should always be present when these firms take on political responsibilities.
Originality/value
To date, CPA and political CSR have largely been dealt with separately in the literature. This study attempted to bridge this gap by examining a situation where there is no strategic relationship between CPA and political CSR to analyse, from the perspective of citizens’ perceptions, the relationship each strategy has with the important academic concept of citizens’ trust in companies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the University Jaume I (research project UJI-B2017-76).We are very grateful to the two anonymous reviewers for their guidance during the review process.
Citation
Tortosa-Edo, V. and López-Navarro, M.Á. (2021), "How do perceived CPA and political CSR interact in their relationships with citizens’ trust in companies?", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 17 No. 8, pp. 1232-1250. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-09-2019-0294
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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