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2 - Institutional Theory and Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries: a Comparative Institutional Perspective

from Part I - Institutions, CSR Conceptualizations and Sustainable Development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2019

By
Viviana Pilato
Edited by
Onyeka Osuji ,
Franklin N. Ngwu  and
Dima Jamali
Onyeka Osuji
Affiliation:
University of Essex
Franklin N. Ngwu
Affiliation:
Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria
Dima Jamali
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut
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Summary

Institutional theory has been used in the study of CSR in developing countries. The chapter offers an insightful new conceptual framework that shows how differing expressions of CSR in developing countries are shaped by the institutional dimensions of the developing country’s institutional context. The chapter proposes a review of the application of institutional theory for CSR in developing countries and how the different comparative CSR frameworks have been used mostly for developed countries. Rather than using existing comparative institutional models such as Varieties of Capitalism (VOC) or National Business System (NBS), the chapter proposes a new theoretical lens to explore CSR in developing countries. Varieties of institutional systems (VIS) aims to expand the conversation on comparative institutional perspectives for CSR in developing countries. The chapter proposes a novel conceptual framework that combines Varieties of Institutional Systems (VIS) theoretical framework with the heterogeneous expressions of CSR in developing countries. This novel conceptual framework is used to explore which expressions of CSR should be implemented by firms in developing countries, depending on the VIS institutional dimensions. Based on the developing country’s institutional context and its institutional dimensions, described by the VIS framework, firms need to adopt a specific expression of CSR in developing countries.

Keywords

Corporate Social ResponsibilityDeveloping CountriesInstitutional TheoryVarieties of Institutional SystemsComparative Institutional Analysis

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Type
Chapter
Information
Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing and Emerging Markets
Institutions, Actors and Sustainable Development
 , pp. 17 - 30
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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