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Corporate Social Responsibility Applied for Rural Development: An Empirical Analysis of Firms from the American Continent

Author

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  • Miguel Arato

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Gent University, Gent 9000, Belgium)

  • Stijn Speelman

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Gent University, Gent 9000, Belgium)

  • Guido Van Huylenbroeck

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Gent University, Gent 9000, Belgium)

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility has been recognized by policymakers and development specialists as a feasible driver for rural development. The present paper explores both theoretically and empirically how firms involved in CSR provide development opportunities to rural communities. The research first evaluates the applied literature on the implementation of CSR by private firms and policymakers as means to foster sustainable rural development. The empirical research analyses the CSR activities of 100 firms from a variety of industries, sizes, and countries to determine the type of companies who are involved in rural development and the kind of activities they deployed. Results from the empirical research show that although rural development initiatives are not relevant for all types of companies, a significant number of firms from a variety of industries have engaged in CSR programs supporting rural communities. Firms appear to be interested in stimulating rural development and seem to benefit from it. This paper also includes an exploration of the main challenges and constraints that firms encounter when encouraging rural development initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Miguel Arato & Stijn Speelman & Guido Van Huylenbroeck, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility Applied for Rural Development: An Empirical Analysis of Firms from the American Continent," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:1:p:102-:d:62662
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. María Cristina Bustillo-Castillejo & Rosario Pérez-Morote & Ángela González-Moreno, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Legitimacy: Colombian Caribbean Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Luisa Esteban-Salvador & Ana Felicitas Gargallo-Castel & Javier Pérez-Sanz, 2020. "Environmental Practices in Firms Located in Underpopulated Rural Areas in Spain: The Case of the Province of Teruel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Hajdu, Anna & Gagalyuk, Taras & Bukin, Eduard & Petrick, Martin, 2021. "Determinants of corporate social responsibility among farms in Russia and Kazakhstan: a multilevel approach using survey data," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 24(4), May.
    5. Eglė Stonkutė & Jolita Vveinhardt & Włodzimierz Sroka, 2018. "Training the CSR Sensitive Mind-Set: The Integration of CSR into the Training of Business Administration Professionals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-14, March.

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