This　paper　investigates　the　impact　of　top-down　amplification　of　economic　growth　targets　on　corporate　social　responsibility　(CSR)　performance.　We　find　a　significant　negative　relationship　between　the　amplification　and　CSR　performance.　We　further　explore　the　underlying　mechanisms　for　such　an　effect　and　find　that　top-down　amplification　of　economic　growth　targets　aggravates　firms＇　operating　risk　and　increases　their　financial　constraints,　thereby　leading　to　a　decline　in　CSR　performance.　Further　analysis　shows　that　the　effect　is　more　pronounced　among　firms　with　less　economically　important,　inefficient　external　and　internal　monitoring,　in　non-state-owned　enterprises　(non-SOEs),　and　those　with　lower　facilitation　payments.　Additionally,　we　also　find　that　firms　with　lower　CSR　performance　are　more　affected　by　the　top-down　amplification　of　economic　growth　targets　in　terms　of　worse　operating　performance　and　lower　total　factor　productivity.　Overall,　our　findings　provide　new　insights　into　the　consequences　of　the　top-down　amplification　of　economic　growth　targets　in　emerging　markets,　thus　expanding　and　complementing　the　existing　literature.　©　2025