PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and market value added (MVA) through a more comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the two variables.Design/methodology/approachThe population used in this study is all companies listed on the IDX. Sample selection is done by purposive sampling method where the criteria chosen in this research are: listed on the IDX during 2010–2016 and published its annual financial statements completely. The analysis tools using panel parametric regression are based on the reciprocal relationship (MVA related to CSR, and CSR related to MVA). This model should be linearity, based on RESET test. On the other hand, an alternative model is based on a nonlinearity relationship (the linearity of parametric regression is not fulfilled), the modified panel nonparametric regression (accommodates the reciprocal and nonlinearity relationship).FindingsSocial responsibility or CSR shows a positive relationship with MVA, also the MVA has a positive relationship with CSR. This means that when CSR value increases, then MVA also increases, vice versa. When the company discloses CSR, the company maintains good relationships not only with its shareholders but also with other stakeholders including the community and its environment. Therefore, it can enhance the company's perception and reputation to shareholders that the company is a responsible company, in the sense of being responsible not only to shareholders but also to other stakeholders. This then makes shareholders interested to invest their capital in companies with good CSR. Increased capital by shareholders in the form of stock purchases can affect the high or low stock price of a company; if the company price is high, then the higher the value of its MVA because the stock price is an element of MVA.Originality/valueBased on the aforementioned phenomenon, the relationship has the reciprocal characteristics, which means that CSR has a relationship with MVA; on the other hand, MVA also has a relationship with CSR (with a different time lag). Also, this study detects the nonlinearity relationship between variables shown in Fernandes and Fresly (2017). This part as the originality of this paper focused on the reciprocal and nonlinearity relationship between CSR and MVA.