Market effects of changes in consumers' social responsibility

García-Gallego, A. and Georgantzis, N. (2009) Market effects of changes in consumers' social responsibility. Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 18 (1). pp. 235-262. ISSN 10586407 doi: 10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00213.x

Abstract/Summary

In a duopoly model of vertical differentiation, we study market equilibrium and the resulting social welfare following an increase in the consumer's willingness to pay (WTP) for products sold by socially responsible manufacturers. Different types of such changes emerge depending on their effects on consumer heterogeneity. We show that, in most cases, increases in the consumers' social consciousness yield higher profits to socially responsible firms and may lead to higher levels of social welfare, provided that the market structure is left unchanged. However, when an increase in the consumer's social consciousness changes the market structure, welfare may fall, while the duopolists' profits rise. The resulting tension between private and social interest calls for a cautious attitude toward information campaigns aimed at increasing the consumer's social consciousness.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/34779
Identification Number/DOI	10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00213.x
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Agri-Food Economics & Marketing
Publisher	Wiley
Publisher Statement	The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.com
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