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  3. Journal of Economic Literature
  4. March 2012
  5. Economic Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility

Journal of Economic Literature

ISSN 0022-0515 (Print) | ISSN 2328-8175 (Online)

Economic Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility

  • Markus Kitzmueller
  • Jay Shimshack
Journal of Economic Literature
vol. 50, no. 1, March 2012
(pp. 51–84)
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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)

Citation

Kitzmueller, Markus, and Jay Shimshack. 2012. "Economic Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility." Journal of Economic Literature, 50 (1): 51–84. DOI: 10.1257/jel.50.1.51

JEL Classification

  • D21 Firm Behavior: Theory
  • L21 Business Objectives of the Firm
  • M14 Corporate Culture; Social Responsibility