Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies,
Uppsala University, Department of Economics

No 2014:10: The Signaling Role of Corporate Social Responsibility

Tomer Blumkin (), Yoram Margalioth () and Adi Sharoni ()
Additional contact information
Tomer Blumkin: Department of Economics, Ben-Gurion University, Postal: Beer-Sheba 84105, Israel, CesIfo, IZA.
Yoram Margalioth: The Buchmann Faculty of Law, Tel-Aviv University, Postal: Tel-Aviv 69978
Adi Sharoni: Department of Economics, Ben-Gurion University, Postal: Beer-Sheba 84105

Abstract: We examine the role of CSR as a mechanism for private provision of public goods. We argue that corporations are using CSR to signal high product quality and demonstrate that signaling gives rise to an excessive level of contributions that offsets the positive externality, which causes the under-provision of public goods. We analyze the tax policy implications of such assertion. Accounting for this offset would call for a decrease in (and potentially elimination of) the subsidy offered to corporations engaged in CSR activities.

Keywords: Signaling; Corporate Social Responsibility; Public Goods; Pigouvian Taxation *

JEL-codes: H20; H40; K30

34 pages, July 30, 2014

Full text files 

FULLTEXT01.pdf PDF-file

Download statistics

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Katarina Grönvall ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

RePEc:hhs:uufswp:2014_010This page generated on 2024-09-13 22:17:28.