CR in developing countries
Comparative Analysis of Social Responsibility in the Financial Sector in Peru and Brazil
(Chero, Limberg & Gunn, Lisa)
Weaving Social Responsibility with Business Strategy - A Case Study of SIPM
(Kanchan, M.)
Corporate social responsibility initiatives in developing countries: the role of the oil & gas companies
(Lupo Stanghellinia, Paola Sabina & Mezzano, Cecilia & Raffaelli, Chiara)
Understanding what CSR really is in the African context
(Mumba, Amos)
Corporate ethics in the indigenous peoples undemarcated lands and a global biodiversity hotspot: case study of the Finnish pulp industry in the coastal Atlantic Forest region, Brazil
(Myllylä Susanna)
Corporate Social Responsibility in China’s Banking Sector
(Yuan, Yaling)
Corporate Social and Environmental Disclosure in a Developing Country: Evidence from Pakistan
(Yunis, Mohammad Sohail & Woodward, David G.)
(1)
Comparative Analysis of Social Responsibility in the Financial Sector in Peru and Brazil
(Chero, Limberg & Gunn, Lisa)
Abstract
This document seeks to provide theoretical information regarding the valuing of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and contributions applied to cases of Commercial Banking in Peru and Brazil, in order to verify the level of fulfillment of these criteria, particularly in the field of labor rights, environmental issues and consumer-relations. This paper shows even though awareness of the effectiveness of CSR as a mechanism for reducing costs and strengthening market share has been increasing, the document demonstrated many businesses in the region have shown reluctance in adopting these practices.
In Peru, in the last five years banks have improved their CSR idea, but this concept seems to be highly linked to philanthropy and generosity. The four financial institutions analyzed in Peru (75% of total market) are clear on the importance of learning about Social Responsibility and its foundations, but its application and coherence with institutional policy still has a long way to go, as it is clear that it "comes from a bank department hired to do so" and does not correspond to a strategic vision of their policymakers.
In Brazil, the study shows that banks still need to perfect much more than their social-environmental practices, even those that are related to consumers. However, we can note that there are significant differences in stances and practices among different institutions, giving consumers options to choose and demand from their banks the adoption of practices that others develop, increasing the level of social responsibility in the sector as a whole.
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(2)
Weaving Social Responsibility with Business Strategy - A Case Study of SIPM
(Kanchan, M.)
ABSTRACT
The study isolates a few events at South India Paper Mills, a medium sized family owned business in southern India manufacturing recycled paper for the past half century as it progressed from a purely family business to a family owned one and currently having public equity and being listed on Bombay Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of Rs.308.6 million.
SIPM integrated socially responsible activities early in its life cycle not with a view to appear 'good' but as a part of its business strategy like the innovative idea of providing free treated water for agriculture to the local farmers to grow paddy instead of the dry crops which were grown earlier, while finding a way of disposing the processed waste water which could not otherwise be discharged into the river. In an era of labor strife, the promoter voluntarily increased compensation packages and guaranteed employment to the children of retired employees which ensured better living standards while being assured of their loyalty, improving the educational standards of the community, providing employment opportunities and reversing the migration trend to the city.
This paper recounts the acute power shortage which nearly crippled the unit and the ingenuity of the management to generate its own power with the locally available cheap biomass which not only ensured a steady supply of power to the company but also a steady income by supplying the excess power to the State grid and a regular source of income to the poor inhabitants of the surrounding villages.
Key words: SME, CSR, Business strategy
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(3)
Corporate social responsibility initiatives in developing countries: the role of the oil & gas companies
(Lupo Stanghellinia, Paola Sabina & Mezzano, Cecilia & Raffaelli, Chiara)
Abstract
Since the beginning of the 20th century Oil&Gas companies have exploited the natural resources of developing countries, and their activities have produced significant social, economic, and environmental impacts on the local communities.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) occupies the center stage of the current debate on the operations of Oil&Gas companies in host countries. Since the 1990s CSR has encouraged these companies to rethink their responsibilities and self-interest in the developing countries' context. Furthermore, CSR initiatives have shown a powerful potential for positive contributions to address the needs of disadvantaged communities in developing countries.
The aim of this study is to identify the various impacts (economic, social, environmental) of the Oil&Gas companies in developing countries and the most urgent problems of local communities. A benchmarking analysis of the information available on web-sites and of sustainability reports of major international Oil&Gas companies is carried out in order to analyze the different CSR initiatives undertaken by these companies, and to find out the various areas of intervention. A further step is the identification of best practices and the analysis of the most effective CSR tools and models.
As a final step, the study investigates future potential developments of CSR actions and measures in host countries and the potential role of properly designed and implemented CSR initiatives as a response to Oil&Gas sector activities' impacts and, at the same time, as a driver of sustainable local development.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, developing countries, local community, sustainable development, human rights.
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(4)
Understanding what CSR really is in the African context
(Mumba, Amos)
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(5)
Corporate ethics in the indigenous peoples undemarcated lands and a global biodiversity hotspot: case study of the Finnish pulp industry in the coastal Atlantic Forest region, Brazil
(Myllylä Susanna)
This paper is part of a new research project: Business Ethics, Bio-diversity and Human Rights Global and Local Acceptability of Forest Sector (BE-DIVERSE) by Dr. Tarja Ketola and Dr. Susanna Myllylä.
Finland is undergoing a structural transformation in the forestry sector as production is being shifted to the Global South, especially to Brazil. What do we actually know about the impacts of the Finnish pulp industry in the Brazilian society and how do local people experience it? This paper focuses on the most vulnerable group to external impact; indigenous communities who live in a difficult situation, where their land ownership has remained unsolved by the government. Land and related resource rights have fundamental importance to indigenous peoples because these resources constitute the basis of their economic livelihood and their social, cultural and spiritual identity. In this case the studied three Indian tribes depend on the Atlantic Forest, which is mostly tropical rainforest and an endangered global bio-diversity hotspot. After the arrival of multinational forest companies the tribes and their livelihoods have experienced numerous negative impacts. The aim of my paper is to bring out the "lived space" perspectives of the traditional communities, based on empirical data from fieldwork. Secondly, the legitimacy problems of the Finnish companies are discussed: I scrutinize the corporate tactics, including business rhetoric and practices, by which the companies seek to gain societal acceptability. The tactics range from social programs to even human rights violations, which have been initiated by the Brazilian partner company. My argument is that while companies have outlined their CSR policies in theory, the situation in actual practice is very different. The Finnish companies face new challenges when operating in Southern cultures thus their business ethics and local impacts deserve closer examination.
Keywords: Corporate ethics, pulp, bio-diversity, human rights, indigenous communities, Atlantic Forest, Brazil.
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(6)
Corporate Social Responsibility in China’s Banking Sector
(Yuan, Yaling)
Today CSR is a global trend that also influences China's development which boomed since the end of the 1970's. The spread of CSR in China coincides with the economic globalization process. As we all know, the current financial crisis happened from the US have spread the whole word. At the first and most obvious level, the irresponsible banking is a direct result of the financial crisis. The global crisis in financial markets raises a number of important and urgent questions regarding corporate social responsibility.
Aim: The study empirically examines and analyze the impact of CSR in China's bank sector ; to provide evidence, indicating whether or not implementation of corporate social responsibility implementation have an impact of the banking operation; to find out how the CSR policies are beijing effected by financial crisis in Chinese banking.
Methodology: The method applied in this study is the case study method. The reports will cover the ten banks in China (5 Chinese banks; 5 foreign banks). External websites linked to by the companies dedicated CSR website. Data and information collection (Including annual reports, traditional news media and recent online information) by company interview and survey are conducted in the ten banks of China about CSR sector. Through deeper analysis the impact of CSR issues in different case of banking, conclusions can be made concerning CSR's effect on the banking operation in China.
Conclusion: What is the relationship between the financial crisis and CSR in Chinese banking system? How will CSR be affected by the financial crisis?
Empirical results: Give a contribution of establishment standards and theory formation of CSR in banking of China, as evaluated by the impact of CSR in different cases of banking during financial crisis.
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(7)
Corporate Social and Environmental Disclosure in a Developing Country: Evidence from Pakistan
(Yunis, Mohammad Sohail & Woodward, David G.)
Abstract
Business in an increasing number of countries throughout the world is being pressured, by government and well as by various campaigning groups, to deal with an increasing range of accountability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues. These include such aspects as corporate governance, social activity disclosure, and an increasing variety of stakeholder-specific issues.
There can be little doubt that the relevant literature has erstwhile concentrated upon research in the developed world, in particular the English speaking countries of the UK, Australia and North America, as well as Western Europe. However, in recent years literature dealing with CSR issues has begun to appear at an enhanced rate in the developing countries such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Korea (and with Singapore sitting somewhat uncomfortably on the developed/developing ‘divide'). No part of this burgeoning literature has, however, focussed on Pakistan, and the present paper represents the first known attempt to address the identified issue in this country.
The sampling frame of the paper encompasses the annual reports, separate CSR reports and corporate website disclosures of a sample of companies drawn from the Karachi Stock Exchange, with analysis then carried out according to the 60 items of social and environmental disclosure developed by Hossain et al. (2006) in their study of Bangladeshi companies. The results indicate that almost all Pakistani blue chip companies disclose social and environmental information, with the most common areas of concern being community relations, health and safety issues and human resource aspects. In this, corporate websites appear to be the favoured avenue of disclosure.
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