How Global Is International CSR Research? Insights and Recommendations from a Systematic Review

Journal of World Business, 52(5), 591-614, 2017, DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2017.05.003, License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, open access

24 Pages Posted: 22 Aug 2017 Last revised: 11 Dec 2020

See all articles by Niccolò Pisani

Niccolò Pisani

IMD

Arno Kourula

University of Amsterdam Business School

Ans Kolk

University of Amsterdam Business School

Renske Meijer

Independent

Date Written: July 25, 2017

Abstract

While studies on international corporate social responsibility (CSR) have expanded significantly, their true global nature can be questioned. We systematically review 494 articles in 31 journals over a 31-year period. We assess the embeddedness of CSR in international management/business (IB); analyze the coverage of developing, emerging, and developed countries; map the literature thematically; summarize key findings; discuss main empirical features; and identify unanswered questions, implications, and best practices. We find that international CSR research is far from being global and still emerging in ‘mainstream’ IB. This comprehensive review also helps to set an agenda for future international CSR scholarship.

Keywords: Corporate social responsibility, Sustainability, Multinational, International business, Developing countries, Emerging countries

JEL Classification: F21, F23, F24, F63, F64, F66, H11, L21, L23, L34, L25, L31, L38, M14, M16, M54, O19, O35, Q01, Q56

Suggested Citation

Pisani, Niccolò and Kourula, Arno and Kolk, Ans and Meijer, Renske, How Global Is International CSR Research? Insights and Recommendations from a Systematic Review (July 25, 2017). Journal of World Business, 52(5), 591-614, 2017, DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2017.05.003, License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, open access, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3019424

Niccolò Pisani

IMD ( email )

Ch. de Bellerive 23
P.O. Box 915
CH-1001 Lausanne
Switzerland

HOME PAGE: http://www.imd.org/faculty/professors/pisani-niccolo/

Arno Kourula

University of Amsterdam Business School ( email )

Roetersstraat 18
Amsterdam, 1018WB
Netherlands

Ans Kolk (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam Business School ( email )

Plantage Muidergracht 12
Amsterdam, 1018 TV
Netherlands
+31 20 525 4289 (Phone)
+31 20 525 5281 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.anskolk.eu

Renske Meijer

Independent ( email )

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