RT Article
T1 Who Needs CSR? The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on National Competitiveness
JF Journal of business ethics
VO 119
IS 3
SP 349
OP 364
A1 Boulouta, Ioanna
A1 Pitelēs, Chrēstos 1957-
A2 Pitelēs, Chrēstos 1957-
LA English
YR 2014
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1785650033
AB The link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and competitiveness has been examined mainly at the business level. The purpose of this paper is to improve conceptual understanding and provide empirical evidence on the link between CSR and competitiveness at the national level. We draw on an eclectic-synthetic framework of international economics, strategic management and CSR literatures to explore conceptually whether and how CSR can impact on the competitiveness of nations, and test our hypotheses empirically with a sample of 19 developed countries over a 6-year period. Our evidence suggests that CSR can make a significant positive contribution to national competitiveness, as measured by national living standards. We also find that countries with a relatively low innovation record can benefit more, as compared to highly innovative countries, by implementing nationwide CSR-based positioning strategies.
K1 National living standards
K1 Innovation
K1 CSR strategies
K1 Corporate Social Responsibility
K1 Corporate Social Performance
K1 Competitiveness
DO 10.1007/s10551-013-1633-2