Moral licensing and corporate social responsibility: A systematic literature review and a research agenda
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In: Journal of Governance and Regulation, Vol. 11, No. 1, special issue, 03.2022, p. 296-302.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Moral licensing and corporate social responsibility
T2 - A systematic literature review and a research agenda
AU - Feldmann, Johanna
AU - Halfina, Jenny
AU - Heyn, Noa Victoria Josefine
AU - Körber, Lea Marie
AU - Bouzzine, Yassin Denis
AU - Lueg, Rainer
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors.
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Moral licensing describes people’s sense of ethical entitlement to morally questionable behavior after they have previously exhibited socially desired behavior. The objective of this review is to examine the concept of moral licensing in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) covering the period from 2012 to 2021. First, our research explains why moral licensing is defined differently across CSR contexts. Second, we illustrate how CSR practices precede moral licensing and misconduct among top executives and employees (List & Momeni, 2021; Ormiston & Wong, 2013). Third, findings suggest that currently underexplored variables moderate the relationship between CSR and moral licensing, including the moral identity symbolization of CEOs and the style of CSR communication. Fourth, we suggest that very few studies have addressed these potentially negative effects of CSR. In conclusion, this review offers an initial overview on moral licensing, examines implications for practice, proposes extensions to existing theory, and sets an agenda for future research.
AB - Moral licensing describes people’s sense of ethical entitlement to morally questionable behavior after they have previously exhibited socially desired behavior. The objective of this review is to examine the concept of moral licensing in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) covering the period from 2012 to 2021. First, our research explains why moral licensing is defined differently across CSR contexts. Second, we illustrate how CSR practices precede moral licensing and misconduct among top executives and employees (List & Momeni, 2021; Ormiston & Wong, 2013). Third, findings suggest that currently underexplored variables moderate the relationship between CSR and moral licensing, including the moral identity symbolization of CEOs and the style of CSR communication. Fourth, we suggest that very few studies have addressed these potentially negative effects of CSR. In conclusion, this review offers an initial overview on moral licensing, examines implications for practice, proposes extensions to existing theory, and sets an agenda for future research.
KW - Management studies
KW - Moral licensing
KW - CSIR
KW - Misconduct
KW - SLR
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/3091a276-01e1-303d-8945-605bfe672323/
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130571839&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.22495/jgrv11i1siart9
DO - 10.22495/jgrv11i1siart9
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 11
SP - 296
EP - 302
JO - Journal of Governance and Regulation
JF - Journal of Governance and Regulation
SN - 2220-9352
IS - 1, special issue
ER -