The Planetary Bargain

This book represents the maturing of the CSR field while providing an excellent introduction and overview. Its basic thesis is that, in order to reverse the negative tendencies of increasing poverty and inequality, we need a planetary bargain between private and public sectors. This will mean that the public sector will help the private sector operate with clear ground rules, while the private sector will pay more attention to longer-term social development. This will not entail ever-more complex rules attempting to create a 'level playing field', but rather the creation of a wider consciousness of and consensus between various stakeholders. The author takes the view that social responsibility is actually good for business in terms of profits and long-term stability. The book offers definitions of CSR, reviews its historical roots, provides the elements of a theory of CSR and suggests a number of precise indicators for measuring it. This is accompanied by case studies and reviews of how CSR is being implemented by leading groups. Essential reading for those concerned with CSR and its development as well as being an introduction for the general reader.