scholarly journals Responsible Business in Fragile Contexts: Comparing Perceptions from Domestic and Foreign Firms in Myanmar

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Barkemeyer ◽  
Jason Miklian
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
International Investment ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Global North ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Large Scale Survey ◽  
Corporate Social

After decades of isolation, Myanmar opened up its economy to international trade in 2012. This opening led to a rapid influx of international investment, exposure to the international corporate social responsibility (CSR) community and presumed pressures to conform to related norms and practices. We report on a large-scale survey of firms operating in Myanmar, comparing perceptions of corporate practitioners of CSR and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our findings show that awareness levels of CSR among domestic Myanmar firms match those of their international peers, but the application of and selection criteria for CSR implementation by domestic firms in Myanmar differs from typical CSR activities observed in other parts of the world, in particular by Global North firms. More surprisingly, Myanmar firms have a higher awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) than their multinational counterparts. Our findings have implications for CSR advocacy in Myanmar as well as for the dissemination of corporate responsibility and sustainability into the developing world more generally.

scholarly journals Health inequality as a large-scale outcome of complex social systems: Lessons for action on the sustainable development goals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Matheson
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Health Inequality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
Past Century ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Complex Social Systems

© 2020 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) needs to become real and impactful, taking a “whole systems” perspective on levers for systems change. This article reviews what we have learned over the past century about the large-scale outcome of health inequality, and what we know about the behaviour of complex social systems. This combined knowledge provides lessons on the nature of inequality and what effective action on our big goals, like the SDGs, might look like. It argues that economic theories and positivist social theories which have dominated the last 150 years have largely excluded the nature of human connections to each other, and the environment. This exclusion of intimacy has legitimatised arguments that only value-free economic processes matter for macro human systems, and only abstract measurement constitutes valuable social science. Theories of complex systems provide an alternative perspective. One where health inequality is viewed as emergent, and causes are systemic and compounding. Action therefore needs to be intensely local, with power relationships key to transformation. This requires conscious and difficult intervention on the intolerable accumulation of resources; improved reciprocity between social groups; and reversal of system flows, which at present ebb away from the local and those already disadvantaged.

Sustainable Development Goals and progressive business models for economic transformation

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 510-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob D Rendtorff
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Business Ethics ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Social

This paper analyses the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations in the 2030 ‘Transforming the World’ Agenda, from 2015, as a contribution to business ethics and ethical economy. The Sustainable Development Goals combine political aims with visions of economic development and social justice and are therefore important for business ethics and corporate social responsibility. Thus, the Sustainable Development Goals constitute a driver for ethical economic development and social change. However, there is a need for critical analysis of the possibilities of Sustainable Development Goals of functioning as a vision and a strategic tool for management and governance. The aim of the paper is to investigate these possibilities of the Sustainable Development Goals of contributing to business ethics and ethical economy with mobilization of business, public institutions and organizations, and non-governmental organizations. After presenting the Sustainable Development Goals, the paper critically discusses their scope and potential for corporate social responsibility, business ethics and corporate sustainability. This involves the problem of how the Sustainable Development Goals can contribute to a transformation towards another economy. As a contribution to business ethics, the paper elaborates on partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals, sustainable performance management systems and the Sustainable Development Goal Compass with the aim of interpreting Sustainable Development Goals as a basis for progressive business ethics models.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

2021 ◽  
pp. 280-295
Author(s):  
Nur Farhah Mahadi ◽  
Nor Razinah Mohd. Zain ◽  
Shamsuddeen Muhammad Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of Islamic social finance towards realising financial inclusion in achieving nine of the seventeen goals of sustainable development goals (SDGs) which are SDG1, SDG2, SDG3, SDG4, SDG5, SDG8, SDG9, SDG10, and SDG17 in the 2030 agenda for SDGs, as propagated by United Nations Member States in 2015. Then, a critical analysis is made to explain the possible contribution of Islamic social finance in achieving financial inclusion which is aligned with SDGs that brings balanced to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual of the community in supporting overall economic growth which finally combats the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research and empirical studies can be conducted to explore the relationship between Islamic social finance, financial inclusion, and SDGs which in tandem with Maqᾱṣid al-Sharῑ῾ah to equip ourselves in unpredictable economic hiccups during COVID-19. The results may also motivate the financial industries to promote Islamic social finance products and corporate social responsibilities as well as enhance the development of Islamic social finance towards achieving financial inclusion in fulfilling SDGs which soon will provide significant social impacts as the results will enable new initiatives by industries and policy makers to develop Islamic social finance in attaining financial inclusion to achieve SDGs which is seen as being parallel with Maqᾱṣid al-Sharῑ῾ah especially in resolving economic issues of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Attaining the sustainable development goals in Africa: The new CSR for multinational corporations

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-105
Author(s):  
Nojeem Amodu
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
State Actor ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Social

The fact that Africa is one of the worst performing regions in global audits about long-term development trends is longer news. The continent has repeatedly missed targets set by the United Nations and there are concerns it might just be left behind in the attainment of the latest 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development set by world leaders in 2015. With a view to complementing states’ responsibilities towards the provision of public goods and social services useful to actualize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, this article interrogates the nature of multinational corporations (MNCs) and juxtaposing the non-state actor responsibilities within wider societal contexts with state duties in advancing the SDGs. The article not only sets the tone for a “new corporate social responsibility” in terms of improved pursuit of sustainability within business communities in corporate Africa, it also recommends workable measures, integrating progressive roles for both the state and MNCs towards the realization of the SDGs on the continent. Keywords: Corporate Responsibility; MNCs; SDGs in Africa; New CSR Roles; Regional Integration.

scholarly journals The Effect of Product Diversification on Corporate Social Performance in the Non-Renewable Energy Industry: Exploring the moderating effects of host country development and the Sustainable Development Goals

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 69-95
Author(s):  
Renske Jongsma ◽  
Bart Jan (Bartjan) Pennink
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Social Performance ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Product Diversification ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Relationship

Aim: Building upon stakeholder and institutional theory, this paper investigates the relationship between product diversification and corporate social performance (CSP), thereby attempting to make essential contributions to the current literature. Based on an extensive literature review, it was expected that related, unrelated and total product diversification are positively related to CSP. Moreover, it was hypothesized that the exposure to weak institutional host country environments negatively affects the relationship between diversification and CSP, and that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a positive effect on the relationship. Design / Research methods: The sample selected for this research is the non-renewable energy industry, since the industry shows great divergence in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. In addition, the industry is highly susceptible to regulatory changes, while the Sustainable Development Goals have an enormous focus on the reliability and sustainability of energy, making it a highly relevant industry to study. This study analyzed 40 a 40 non-renewable energy firms over a time frame of seven years, by using OLS regression. Conclusions / findings: The results reveal that unrelated diversification is positively related to CSP, while the other forms of diversification show insignificant results. Contrary to expectations, the Sustainable Development Goals negatively affect the relationship between product diversification and CSP, while the moderating effect of exposure to weak institutional environments is insignificant. Originality / value of the article: Research on the relationship between product diversification on corporate financial performance is well-established, but the way in which product diversification influences a firm’s behavior towards stakeholder demands and social concerns remains largely unexplored. Accordingly, the results of this study challenge existing theories while adding more context to the existing relationship, and in turn provide promising avenues for future research.

The Sustainable Development Goals and Business Students’ Preferences: An Exploratory Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 99-114
Author(s):  
James W. Westerman ◽  
Yalcin Acikgoz ◽  
Lubna Nafees ◽  
Emmeline dePillis ◽  
Jennifer Westerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Business Student ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Corporate Social

To effectively teach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to enhance corporate social responsibility, we need to understand the predictors of business student predispositions towards the SDGs. We examine whether location, authoritarianism, religiosity, and individualism influence university business student SDG preferences. Results (n=262) indicate authoritarian and religious business students emphasize SDGs with an orientation towards the health and economic well-being of their local communities. The results also indicate the most significant factor in predicting SDG preference was university location. Southeastern U.S. students were more supportive of people/prosperity-oriented SDGs, indicating greater concern with the social safety net and basic human needs, whereas Hawaiian students were more supportive of planet-oriented SDGs indicating greater concern for environmental issues. Implications for teaching SDGs to university business students are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document