Do non-family managers promote family firms’ CSR disclosure? Evidence from Vietnamese listed firms

Purpose This paper aims to explore the relationship between non-family managers’ involvement in the top management team (TMT) and listed Vietnamese family firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures. Design/methodology/approach The authors relied on panel data, specifically 1,098 observations of Vietnamese listed firms over a six-year period (2014–2019), and applied fractional regressions and robustness tests. Findings The participation of non-family managers in the TMT increases family firms’ CSR disclosure in Vietnam. The results suggest that the context moderates the impact of non-family managers on CSR disclosure. Practical implications The participation of non-family managers in the TMT can increase firms’ CSR disclosure, especially in emerging markets such as Vietnam, where CSR disclosure practices are still nascent. Social implications This study provides valuable insights for family firms in developing countries to improve their CSR disclosure practices in the context of limited familiarity with CSR reporting. Originality/value Although research has attempted to uncover how non-family managers influence the level of CSR disclosure, few have focused on emerging contexts such as Vietnam. This study shows that the relationship between non-family involvement and family firms’ CSR disclosure is context dependent, highlighting the moderating effect of context.