Pooja Thakur-Wernz, assistant professor of business administration at Washington and Lee University, recently coauthored an article published in the Journal of Business Ethics entitled “Family Ownership and CSR Overspending: Evidence from India on the Mediating Role of CSR Committee Composition” The paper, co-authored by Olga Bruyaka of West Virginia University and Chitra Singla of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (India), examines why some firms choose to deliberately exceed the legally mandated requirements for corporate social responsibility (CSR). The study analyzed data from more that 600 publicly listed firms in India, where a minimum level of CSR spending is legally required, offering a distinct context to investigate when and why companies voluntarily exceed these obligations.
The study’s findings suggest that family- owned firms are more likely to surpass CSR as a strategic method in building a strong reputation, reinforcing stakeholder trust and maintaining enduring relationships with communities. The research also explored the role that institutional structures, such as overlapping board committees and increased female representation, influence how companies prioritize and execute their social initiatives.
Thakur-Wernz, who joined W&L in 2020, holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Osmania University (India), an MBA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in management from Rutgers University. Her teaching and research interests lie at the intersection of strategic management and international business.
