Visible Hands
Government Regulation and International Business Responsibility

This book offers a new framework for analysing government policies relating to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in multinational corporations: direct and indirect policies for CSR.

Jette Steen Knudsen (Author), Jeremy Moon (Author)

9781107512122, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 May 2019

266 pages, 5 b/w illus. 22 tables
23 x 15.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.45 kg

'It has now been established that CSR, generally defined as companies' voluntary social and environmental initiatives that go beyond legal requirements is a core part of any company's competitive strategy. This book written by two political scientists examines a critical yet neglected piece of this complex puzzle, the role of governments in CSR. In particular, the authors effectively argue and show fascinating evidence that governments structure the opportunities for CSR and act as agents to encourage and exploit CSR for public policy purposes such as by directing public policies to support international CSR organizations. This book is relevant to anyone interested in stakeholder management, CSR, governance and sustainability.' Ruth V. Aguilera, Northeastern University, Massachusetts

A growing number of states are regulating the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of domestic multinational corporations relating to overseas subsidiaries and suppliers. In this book, Jette Steen Knudsen and Jeremy Moon offer a new framework for analysing government-CSR relations: direct and indirect policies for CSR. Arguing that existing research on CSR regulation fails to address the growing role of the state in shaping the international practices of multinational corporations, the authors provide insight into the CSR issues that are addressed by government policies. Drawing on case studies, they analyse three key examples of CSR: non-financial reporting, ethical trade and tax transparency in extractive industries. In doing so, they propose a new research agenda of government and CSR that is relevant to scholars and graduate students in CSR, sustainability, political economy and economic sociology, as well as policymakers and consultants in international development and trade.

1. Government and CSR: hands visible and invisible
2. National government and international corporate social responsibility
3. Government and corporate social responsibility: from domestic to international spheres
4. Government and non-financial reporting: public policy in Denmark
5. Governments and ethical trade: the ethical trading initiative and responses to Rana Plaza
6. Governments and tax transparency: the extractive industries transparency initiative, Dodd-Frank, and the European Accounting Act amendments
7. Conclusion: visible hands for responsible international business.

Subject Areas: Corporate governance [KJR], Business ethics & social responsibility [KJG], Business studies: general [KJB], Business & management [KJ], Economics, finance, business & management [K]