This setting lets you change the way you view articles. You can choose to have articles open in a dialog window, a new tab, or directly in the same window.
Open in Dialog
Open in New Tab
Open in same window
Open in New Tab
Open in same window
Journal of Economic Literature: Vol. 50 No. 1 (March 2012)
Economic Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility
Article Citation
Kitzmueller, Markus, and
Jay Shimshack. 2012. "Economic Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility."
The Journal of Economic Literature,
50(1): 51-84.
DOI: 10.1257/jel.50.1.51
DOI: 10.1257/jel.50.1.51
Abstract
This paper synthesizes the expanding corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature. We define CSR from an economic perspective and develop a CSR taxonomy that connects disparate approaches to the subject. We explore whether CSR should exist and investigate conditions when CSR may produce higher welfare than other public good provision channels. We also explore why CSR does exist. Here, we integrate theoretical predictions with empirical findings from economic and noneconomic sources. We find limited systematic empirical evidence in favor of CSR mechanisms related to induced
innovation, moral hazard, shareholder preferences, or labor markets. In contrast, we uncover consistent empirical evidence in favor of CSR mechanisms related to consumer markets, private politics, and public politics. (JEL D21, L21, M14)
Article Full-Text Access
Full-text Article (Complimentary)
Authors
Kitzmueller, Markus (World Bank Group)
Shimshack, Jay (Tulane U)
Shimshack, Jay (Tulane U)
JEL Classifications
D21: Firm Behavior: Theory
L21: Business Objectives of the Firm
M14: Corporate Culture; Social Responsibility
L21: Business Objectives of the Firm
M14: Corporate Culture; Social Responsibility
