Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Memorandum,
Oslo University, Department of Economics

No 01/2011: Is corporate social responsibility associated with lower wages?

Karine Nyborg () and Tao Zhang ()
Additional contact information
Karine Nyborg: Dept. of Economics, University of Oslo, Postal: Department of Economics, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1095 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Tao Zhang: Ragnar Frisch Center for Economic Research, Postal: Ragnar Frisch Center for Economic Research, Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway

Abstract: Firms with a reputation as socially responsible may have an important cost advantage: If workers prefer their employer to be socially responsible, equilibrium wages may be lower in such firms. We explore this hypothesis, combining Norwegian register data with data on firm reputation collected by an employer branding firm. Adjusting for a large set of background variables, we find that the firm’s social responsibility reputation is significantly associated with lower wages.

Keywords: Self-regulation; wage differentials; CSR

JEL-codes: C51; D21; D64; Q56

17 pages, January 28, 2011

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