This study aims to investigate if companies that declare themselves socially responsible divulge specific financial information on resources spent in public benefit (private social investment) and, also, if the dimension of these expenses is significantly different between companies whose products are associated to negative externalities and the organizations members of the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa). The sample consisted of 52 companies, separated in: 34 CSI participant organizations and 18 companies from the tobacco, alcoholic beverages and arms industries. The data were obtained from annual reports (fiscal years 2005 and 2004), websites, social statements and the Bovespa electronic database. Questionnaires were sent to managers of companies that did not disclose their social projects. Although most of the companies declare themselves socially responsible, the results appointed that 11.8% of CSI companies and 72.2% of organizations associated with negative externalities do not divulge financial information on social expenses, generating doubts about the existence or the dimension of their investments in the community. Only two tobacco companies (CTA Continental and Souza Cruz) used to disclose social information. They stand out because they present higher average levels of social investments than CSI companies, suggesting that they have specific incentives for such behavior.
Social responsibility; Private social investment; Disclosure; Negative externalities
