Effects of corporate social responsibility on food safety

Abstract

This paper develops the theory of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the food industry. The effects of CSR on the food industry are captured. First, we argue that CSR reduces the profits of a CSR firm under monopoly. Second, under complete information, regulation does not improve social welfare. We find that both active price regulation and active quality regulation reduce a monopolist’s profits, consumer surplus and social welfare. Finally, under incomplete information, the monopolist exaggerates quality as much as possible. With quality regulation, CSR reduces exaggerated quality in the food industry.