Contemporary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in China: A Case Study of a Chinese Compliant
Biyan Tang*
Abstract: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become prominent in Chinese political, academic, and economics forums as China’s economy has grown more integrated into the worldwide economic market and Chinese citizens have become more aware of the need for socially responsible business practices. Unlike CSR in western countries, however, in China CSR is primarily a government-guided activity rather than a private sector initiative, and CSR implementation is more prominent in state-owned enterprises (SOE). This article aims to provide the reason for the imbalance between CSR implementation in SOEs and private companies. Part I gives a brief general introduction to CSR; part II analyzes recent CSR development in China and its characteristics; and part III is an interview with Mr. Li Weiyang, CSR director at a leading Chinese SOE, regarding his experiences with advocacy and complaints.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), State-Owned Enterprises (SOE), China
I. Introduction to CSR
A. Definition and Standards
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is corporate self-regulation by which companies integrate social, environmental, and economic concerns into their values and operations in a transparent and accountable manner. CSR allows an organization to take responsibility for the impact of its decisions and activities on society, the natural environment, and its own future profitability. The United Nations has called this triad of concerns the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. CSR functions as a tool for corporations to monitor and ensure active compliance with the law, ethical standards, and international standards. CSR
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* Biyan Tang is a 2015 Economics Ph.D candidate at the University of Kansas, who is interested in macroeconomics and development economics. Biyan received her M.A. and B.A. at Central University for Nationalities in Beijing, China.
