Corporate social responsibility, job creation, innovation and economic growth: Evidence from Tunisian firms

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show, theoretically and empirically, the importance of the social responsibility of national companies in the creation of wealth. The aim is to explain the indirect relationship between economic growth and social responsibility. This relationship shows the effect of socially responsible investment on creativity, job creation, the innovation effort of companies and, subsequently, on economic growth. Analysis of the data collected revealed the importance of corporate social responsibility in explaining the positive variation in sectoral GDP. Empirical analysis of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and economic growth shows the role of socially responsible investment in explaining the wealth of nations. The social performance of companies has a positive impact on their levels of competitiveness, profitability, job creation and innovation. But it is negatively associated with value added. The analysis of economic growth through the integration of social responsibility is consistent with that of endogenous growth theory, which shows the importance of organisational learning (Through practice) as a factor in economic growth. From this point of view, the contribution of this study is to encourage Tunisian companies to invest in socially responsible projects and actions that create wealth.