Date of Completion

Spring 4-29-2016

Thesis Advisor(s)

Gerlinde Berger-Walliser; Nora Madjar-Nanovska

Honors Major

Management

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Business and Corporate Communications | Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics | International Business | Strategic Management Policy

Abstract

The expectations of what businesses should be responsible for has changed more and more as the consumer consciousness has evolved. For many businesses, especially those in the United States, change in their approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is necessary in order to satisfy customers and stay competitive. This paper will discuss and compare the history and current practice of CSR between the United States and the European Union. I find that since the European Union has a history of holding companies to higher CSR standards, European-based companies have an advantage in various consumer markets with growing consciousness. Meanwhile, companies in the United States have had a more reactive, autonomous history of CSR and hence will need to implement socially responsible practices into their business model in order to remain competitive.

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