Lecture: Does Distance Matter? Firm–Government Geographic Proximity and Strategic Corporate Philanthropy

Speaker: Gracy (J.Y.) YANG

Time: 13:30-15:30 p.m. 20th September, 2018

Venue: Room 305, Tongji Building A

Abstract:

This paper examines the relationship between a firm’s geographic proximity to the local governments and its corporate philanthropy in an emerging economy. Drawing on the geographic strategy literature and information voids perspective, we argue that a greater geographic distance of a firm from the local administrative governments increases the firm’s corporate donation. More important, this positive effect is weaker for firms with political connection but is stronger when governments’ intervention is greater. Two empirical analyses using a sample of 11,978 firm-year observations obtained from publicly listed firms in China from 2008 to 2013, and another sample of 3,775 firm-year observations obtained from the Chinese Private Enterprise Survey from 1995 to 2002, both support our arguments.

Bio:

Gracy (J.Y.) Yang is a senior lecturer of the Discipline of International Business at the University of Sydney Business School. She received her Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Her current research interests include global strategy, organizational learning, organizational and inter-organizational networks, and non-market strategy in transition and emerging economies. Her research has appeared in Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Best Paper Proceeding, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Global Strategy Journal, Long Range Planning, Organization Science, and others.

Gracy is currently serving on the Editorial Review Board of Strategic Management, Journal of International Business Studies, and Journal of World Business. She served as track chairs at Australia New Zealand International Business Academy (ANZIBA) in 2016, Asia Academy of Management (AAOM) in 2017, and is serving as the chair for the track of internationalization process and international entrepreneurship at Academy of International Business (AIB) in 2018. She has also frequently chaired sessions at various prestigious international and local conferences in the field of business and management, including the annual conferences of Academy of Management (AOM), AAOM, AIB, ANZIBA, and Strategic Management Society (SMS).