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Beauty and the beast: an institutional analysis of corporate social responsibility in China

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Beauty and the beast: an institutional analysis of corporate social responsibility in China. / Whiteman, Gail; Krug, Barbara.
In: Journal of International Business Ethics, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2008, p. 36-51.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Whiteman G, Krug B. Beauty and the beast: an institutional analysis of corporate social responsibility in China. Journal of International Business Ethics. 2008;1(1):36-51.

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Whiteman, Gail ; Krug, Barbara. / Beauty and the beast : an institutional analysis of corporate social responsibility in China. In: Journal of International Business Ethics. 2008 ; Vol. 1, No. 1. pp. 36-51.

Bibtex

@article{660fa1bd038c40faa6a06c7560a2384c,
title = "Beauty and the beast: an institutional analysis of corporate social responsibility in China",
abstract = "Academic conceptualizations of corporate social responsibility rarely take an institutional perspective. Yet, the socially responsible behavior of multinational companies in China cannot exist within an institutional vacuum. We address this gap in the literature by presenting the case of SK-II Cosmetics, manufactured by Procter & Gamble in Japan and exported to China. In 2006, Chinese authorities announced that SK-II contained toxic chemicals despite company denials. Using SK-II as an exemplary case, we argue that dynamic institutional actors, such as the state, media and consumers continually shape and challenge the definition of what is socially responsible behavior, based not just on firm{\textquoteright}s behavior but on the broader institutional context. We suggest that at least three institutions are important in determining corporate social responsibility for foreign firms in China: first, the market (more precisely competition); second, political/private censorship of information (or the tactical use of misinformation) and corporate governance; third, state protectionism and rent-seeking.",
keywords = "corporate social responsibility, institutions, China Procter & Gamble skincare",
author = "Gail Whiteman and Barbara Krug",
year = "2008",
language = "English",
volume = "1",
pages = "36--51",
journal = "Journal of International Business Ethics",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Beauty and the beast

T2 - an institutional analysis of corporate social responsibility in China

AU - Whiteman, Gail

AU - Krug, Barbara

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Academic conceptualizations of corporate social responsibility rarely take an institutional perspective. Yet, the socially responsible behavior of multinational companies in China cannot exist within an institutional vacuum. We address this gap in the literature by presenting the case of SK-II Cosmetics, manufactured by Procter & Gamble in Japan and exported to China. In 2006, Chinese authorities announced that SK-II contained toxic chemicals despite company denials. Using SK-II as an exemplary case, we argue that dynamic institutional actors, such as the state, media and consumers continually shape and challenge the definition of what is socially responsible behavior, based not just on firm’s behavior but on the broader institutional context. We suggest that at least three institutions are important in determining corporate social responsibility for foreign firms in China: first, the market (more precisely competition); second, political/private censorship of information (or the tactical use of misinformation) and corporate governance; third, state protectionism and rent-seeking.

AB - Academic conceptualizations of corporate social responsibility rarely take an institutional perspective. Yet, the socially responsible behavior of multinational companies in China cannot exist within an institutional vacuum. We address this gap in the literature by presenting the case of SK-II Cosmetics, manufactured by Procter & Gamble in Japan and exported to China. In 2006, Chinese authorities announced that SK-II contained toxic chemicals despite company denials. Using SK-II as an exemplary case, we argue that dynamic institutional actors, such as the state, media and consumers continually shape and challenge the definition of what is socially responsible behavior, based not just on firm’s behavior but on the broader institutional context. We suggest that at least three institutions are important in determining corporate social responsibility for foreign firms in China: first, the market (more precisely competition); second, political/private censorship of information (or the tactical use of misinformation) and corporate governance; third, state protectionism and rent-seeking.

KW - corporate social responsibility

KW - institutions

KW - China Procter & Gamble skincare

M3 - Journal article

VL - 1

SP - 36

EP - 51

JO - Journal of International Business Ethics

JF - Journal of International Business Ethics

IS - 1

ER -