Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Shareholding Companies at Palestine Securities Exchange

Abstract

This paper aims to measure the extent to which public companies at the Palestine Stock Exchange have adopted social responsibility according to international standards and concepts represented by the four dimensions of social responsibility (economic, legal, ethical, and human dimensions). Unlike previous Palestinian studies, this paper provides a theoretical and practical basis for the actual application of corporate social responsibility, as well as the relationship of variables related to the company’s work sector, age, classification in the market, and the adoption of social responsibility. To reach the aim, the applied study applied the descriptive analytical method by studying the content, percentages, mean, standard deviation, and relative weight, in addition to a t-test for one sample. The questionnaire was distributed to the study population as one for each company, as the study population consisted of 49 companies listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange. The study retrieved 38 questionnaires with a recovery rate of 77.6%. The findings showed a high degree of approval regarding «adopting social responsibility through the legal dimension», with a relative weight of 86.20%. There is a medium degree of approval regarding «adopting social responsibility through the ethical dimension» with relative weight. 82.58%, in addition to having a medium degree of approval regarding «adopting social responsibility through the economic dimension», with a relative weight of 78.53%. The results showed a lack of general approval regarding «adopting social responsibility through the human dimension», with a relative weight of 63.79%. The obtained results revealed that the public shareholding companies listed on the Palestine Securities Exchange adopt social responsibility programs through their four dimensions combined to a medium degree. There are no significant differences between the companies listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange and the leading and distinguished companies in their social responsibility practice, on the one hand, and between companies in terms of adopting social responsibility through its four dimensions, according to (work sector, company age), except for the company’s classification variable in the market, on the other hand. The paper recommended that companies work on making an integrative relationship with the local community and achieve their own goals through such a surrounding environment. Therefore, they must take serious steps to increase the level of development of their relationship with the local community and improve the special programs and policies for social responsibility in solving problems related to social, economic, and environmental aspects. The state must also have a positive attitude and practices toward companies that adopt social responsibility, through legislation or procedures such as exempting them from taxes or other facilities in return for their social contribution. The study also recommended the need for greater attention to social responsibility through preparing plans and discussing them in the meetings of the Board of Directors so that they are taken into account in the budget.