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Corporate Social Responsibility pp 3–15Cite as

Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review of the Concept and Analysis of the Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility in the Twenty-First Century

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Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

This paper reviews the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with a view toward understanding its meaning and component parts, and examines the business case for corporate social responsibility. The business case for CSR refers to arguments made in support of the reasons businesses should accept and advance CSR activities. The business case is concerned with CSR benefits to corporations, and particularly with the bottom-line financial gains for businesses pursuing CSR activities. In developing this paper, we provided conceptual definitions of CSR as well as arguments that have been made in favor of the notion of business assuming any responsibility to society beyond profit-seeking and maximizing its own financial wellbeing for its shareholders.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management and Marketing, College of Business, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Sutliff Hall, Room 358, 400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA, 17815, USA

    John O. Okpara

  2. Faculty of Business & Law, London Metropolitan University, Calcutta House, Old Castle Street, London, E1 7NT, UK

    Samuel O. Idowu

Authors
  1. John O. Okpara
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  2. Samuel O. Idowu
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Correspondence to John O. Okpara .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management and Marketing, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA

    John O. Okpara

  2. Faculty of Business & Law, London Metropolitan University, London, United Kingdom

    Samuel O. Idowu

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Okpara, J.O., Idowu, S.O. (2013). Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review of the Concept and Analysis of the Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility in the Twenty-First Century. In: Okpara, J., Idowu, S. (eds) Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40975-2_1

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