Does CSR Contribute to Sustainable Development? What a Régulation Approach Can Tell Us

Abstract

We argue that corporate social responsibility depends on two distinct stylized facts concerning régulation and power. The first—institutional CSR—is institutional in nature, the other—strategic CSR—is economic and productive. The former permits and stabilizes the latter, which in turn gives rise to political compromises structuring institutional mechanisms. CSR strategies and institutions correspond to a private, oligopolistic régulation which shows no signs of being able to pursue a sustainable development regime. JEL classification: B52, D02, L15, M14, P17