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Firms under pressure: International trade and social activism

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  • Löhnert, Claudius

Abstract

Activists denouncing firms for what they consider unethical conduct (e.g., poor treatment of labor or practices that are harmful to the environment) often pressure firms through consumer boycotts. This paper presents a model of international trade with heterogeneous firms and endogenous campaigns conducted by social activists. Being the target of campaigns damages the reputation of a firm, reducing the perceived quality and therefore sales of its variety. Campaigns require funding by consumers who support the activists' mission. The paper analyzes the effect of such demand-reducing campaigns on firms. It identifies a feedback effect of campaigns that increases mark-ups in the presence of social activism, which stems from large firms attracting more campaigns while campaigns also decrease sales. The paper further shows that social activism reduces the elasticity of bilateral trade flows with respect to trade costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Löhnert, Claudius, 2022. "Firms under pressure: International trade and social activism," Passauer Diskussionspapiere, Volkswirtschaftliche Reihe V-87-22, University of Passau, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:upadvr:v8722
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    international trade; heterogeneous firms; gravity; consumer boycotts; NGOs; campaigns; social activism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F61 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Microeconomic Impacts
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L31 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation

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