In the past decade, a sizable body of literature has built up on the concept and characteristics of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Western countries, where it has also been referred to as sustainability. More recently, attention has grown for CSR in emerging countries. Remarkably,...

The effectiveness of self-regulation to promote corporate social responsibility, with codes of conduct as most common means, continues to be the subject of widespread interest. This article explores the effectiveness of corporate codes of conduct, focusing on the issue of child labour. This...

In the debate on how to combat poverty, the positive role of MNCs is frequently mentioned nowadays, although doubts and criticism remain. Facing this societal debate, MNCs feel pressure to formulate a position. This paper analyzes MNCs' policies on their poverty-alleviating potential....

How do multinationals address conflicting norms and expectations? This article focuses on corporate codes of ethics in the area of child labor as possible expressions of Strategic International Human Resource Management. It analyses whether fifty leading multinationals adopt universal ethical...

This overview chapter presents the main factors relevant to multinationals and climate change, considering particularly those that play a role at the sector, firm and country levels. It summarizes the main elements that influence multinationals positions and strategies on climate change and that...

As part of the debate about globalization and regionalization, this paper adds a perspective that has so far remained underexposed, that of (formerly state-owned) firms in (previously) regulated industries, in order to better understand the (changing) role of the home country/region in...

While research has generated useful very insights, usually at the macro level, regarding the multi-faceted nature of environmental innovation and regulation, the characteristics and drivers peculiar to international companies have remained underexposed in the policy-related literature on clean...

This paper explores the role of ideology in attempts to influence public policy and in business representation in the EU-China solar panel anti-dumping dispute. It exposes the dynamics of international activity by emerging-economy multinationals, in this case from China, and their interactions...

Purpose – Although the crucial role of business, and of business-based approaches, in development is increasingly emphasised by academics and practitioners, we lack insight into the ‘whether and how' of viable business models, in environmental, social and economical terms. This article...

In recent years, the food industry has been confronted with public concerns about health and obesity. And while companies are taking several measures in response, it is unclear to what extent they should communicate these policies or not. This is a topic left largely unexplored, but a crucial...