Engaging CSR in SMEs by exporting: The critical factors of CEOs and markets

Abstract Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has recently been emphasized as an important focus area of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) for achieving sustainable competitiveness. As most SMEs have scarce resources, however, their CSR implementation has varied significantly. This study investigated why some SMEs actively engage in CSR by suggesting export participation for CSR engagement. This motive differs from the widely believed motive of SMEs for their active engagement in CSR: their relationships with their local communities. Considering the distinctive features of SMEs, this study also examined how the relationship between SMEs' exports and their CSR engagement is moderated by the influence of the SMEs' CEOs and markets. By studying the CSR activities of 614 SMEs in South Korea drawn from a survey of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, we found that exporters are more likely to be engaged in CSR. Moreover, the relationship between export participation and CSR was stronger in SMEs with family CEOs and in business‐to‐business‐focused SMEs.