Institutional CSR: provision of public goods in developing economies
ISSN: 1747-1117
Article publication date: 28 November 2018
Issue publication date: 27 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to introduce the concept of institutional CSR and explains its antecedents, key characteristics and the potential implications arising from private firms providing public goods and services in developing economies.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper conceptualises institutional CSR using key insights from institutional theory along with legitimacy theory. It integrates the antecedents of CSR at the state and society levels and shows how firms may respond to these antecedents within an integrated institutional CSR framework.
Findings
The paper derives six distinct characteristics of institutional CSR and presents a conceptual model to inform how institutional CSR occurs in practice.
Practical implications
This paper brings to the attention the need for private firms that undertake institutional CSR activities to engage more closely with the state to ensure better societal outcomes.
Social implications
The paper identifies the importance of resource coordination between the state and the firm for the efficient and effective provision of public goods and services. Without such coordination, moral hazard, resource imbalances and long-term viability concerns pose a risk for institutional CSR activities. It furthermore highlights important implications for societal governance.
Originality/value
The paper makes an important contribution to the literature on CSR practices within developing economies by conceptualising institutional CSR in providing public goods and services.
Keywords
Citation
Bradly, A. and Nathan, G. (2019), "Institutional CSR: provision of public goods in developing economies", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 15 No. 7, pp. 874-887. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-01-2018-0019
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited