Multinationals CSR Practices in Developing Countries: An International Perspective (Business Issues, Competition and Entrepreneurship)

This book explores the relationship between multinationals and developing countries. Some of multinationals corporations claim to be taking steps to improve their CSR practices through the use of voluntary initiatives such as codes of conduct, environmental certification, social audits, fair trading and social investments. However, that kind of voluntary initiative may be limited in some developing countries where companies are not subjected to the same pressures and market opportunities that make many corporations responsible in developed countries. The challenge for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in developing countries is guided by a vision distilled into the UN Millennium Development Goals. Unfortunately, these global aspirations remain far from being met in many developing countries today. The book also examines the promotion of corporate environmental and social responsibility in specific developing countries. While concepts like corporate social responsibility have become more fashionable in many developing countries, they have essentially been introduced from abroad. Thus, on one hand, the lack of interest within some developing countries is not surprising considering the current context of economic, political and social crisis, which generates other priorities. On the other hand, an institutional framework supportive of CSR practices has emerged in some developing countries. In these countries, corporate policies to promote responsible social and environmental behaviours have been increasingly important among foreign-based companies.