Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/339055 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2025:10
Publisher: 
Lund University, School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Lund
Abstract: 
This paper examines the causal effect of public discourse in one or both sides of the market on overall market socially responsible behavior. In a laboratory setting, we vary whether firms and/or consumers participate in a public discussion before trading begins. When both sides take part, the share of socially responsible trades increases slightly; however, when only one side participates, market social responsibility does not improve relative to a no-discourse control. These findings suggest that campaigns aiming to foster socially responsible conduct must engage all sides of the market to achieve meaningful impact. We also provide evidence that the effectiveness of public discourse will be limited when participants prioritize profits over norm adherence.
Subjects: 
Public Discourse
Externalities
Social Responsibility
Experiment
JEL: 
C92
D62
D83
M14
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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