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Inflation, the Corporate Greed Narrative, and the Value of Corporate Social Responsibility

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Mão-de-Ferro

    (University of Zurich - Department of Banking and Finance; Swiss Finance Institute)

  • Stefano Ramelli

    (University of St. Gallen - School of Finance; Swiss Finance Institute)

Abstract

Inflation can significantly undermine companies' relationships with their customers, employees, and other stakeholders, spawning a crisis of trust. This is particularly true in a period when many citizens accuse corporations of excessively raising prices to maximize profits. Studying the cross-sectional reactions of US stocks to inflation over the period 2018-2022, we find that in the month following a higher inflation rate, equity investors reward firms with stronger social capital, as proxied by their corporate social responsibility levels. The effect holds using different measures of inflation, including region-specific ones. The inflation-hedging property of CSR is stronger for firms headquartered in Democratic US states (those most exposed to the "corporate greed'' narrative of inflation) and for firms with higher customer awareness and intangible capital. Overall, the findings spotlight inflation as a crisis in stakeholder trust and provide new insights into the importance of social capital for firm value.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Mão-de-Ferro & Stefano Ramelli, 2023. "Inflation, the Corporate Greed Narrative, and the Value of Corporate Social Responsibility," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 23-06, Swiss Finance Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chf:rpseri:rp2306
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CSR; ESG; Inflation; Stock returns; Social capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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