This study investigates the persuasive advertising
and informative advertising effects of CSR initiatives
on corporate reputation and brand equity based on the
evidence from the life insurance industry in Taiwan. The
study finds, first, policyholders’ perceptions concerning the
CSR initiatives of life insurance companies have positive
effects on customer satisfaction, corporate reputation, and
brand equity. Second, the advertising effects of the CSR
initiatives on corporate reputation are only informative.
Third, the impacts of CSR initiatives on brand equity
include informative advertising and persuasive advertising
effects. This study contributes the literature by explicit
defining the advertising effects of CSR initiatives. Following
the first step made by McWilliams et al.