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Corporate social responsibility in china: an analysis of domestic and foreign retailers' sustainability dimensions

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  • Ans Kolk
  • Pan Hong
  • Willemijn van Dolen

Abstract

In the past decade, a sizeable 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, China has hardly been studied so far. This paper aims to help fill this gap by considering, against this background, the CSR notion in China, through an exploration of a small sample of large retailers in China, both Chinese and non‐Chinese companies. The analysis of CSR/sustainability dimensions, as communicated by these large retailers in both the Chinese and the English language, shows substantial differences between the Chinese and international contexts. Interestingly, the largest divergence can be found for international retailers between their Chinese and corporate attention for CSR (so home versus host settings), most notably in the case of Carrefour, and to a lesser extent Wal‐Mart. In the Chinese context, there are differences between the Chinese and international retailers as well (so domestic versus foreign firms), with the former reporting more on economic dimensions, including philanthropy, and the latter more on product responsibility – contentious labour issues and the environment receive relatively limited attention in both groups in China. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for research and practice. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Ans Kolk & Pan Hong & Willemijn van Dolen, 2010. "Corporate social responsibility in china: an analysis of domestic and foreign retailers' sustainability dimensions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(5), pages 289-303, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:19:y:2010:i:5:p:289-303
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.630
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ans Kolk, 2008. "Sustainability, accountability and corporate governance: exploring multinationals' reporting practices," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Audun Ruud, 2002. "Environmental management of transnational corporations in India—are TNCs creating islands of environmental excellence in a sea of dirt?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(2), pages 103-118, March.
    3. Soeren Jeppesen & Michael W. Hansen, 2004. "Environmental upgrading of Third World enterprises through linkages to transnational corporations. Theoretical perspectives and preliminary evidence," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 261-274, July.
    4. Ralph Luken & Rodney Stares, 2005. "Small business responsibility in developing countries: a threat or an opportunity?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(1), pages 38-53, January.
    5. Kolk, Ans & van Tulder, Rob, 2002. "The Effectiveness of Self-regulation:: Corporate Codes of Conduct and Child Labour," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 260-271, June.
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