The Conscience of Capitalism: Business Social Responsibility to Communities

Terry L. Besser

ISBN 10: 0275975894 / ISBN 13: 9780275975890

Published by Praeger (UK), 2002

The Conscience of Capitalism: Business Social Responsibility to Communities This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780275975890

Synopsis:

The common wisdom that business contributions to the common good are counterproductive in the new competitive global marketplace does not hold up to empirical research. In fact, doing good is good for business, and a majority of businesses do provide some form of community support, which Besser discovered in her exhaustive survey of the Iowa business community. Business owners and managers often act out of a sense of community spirit and a certain obligation to better the common good. While the increasingly globalized economy has encouraged a number of large corporations to become freewheelers, the vast majority of companies are firmly rooted in place and look at their locales with more than just a utilitarian eye.

Extensive interviews with Iowa business owners, managers, and business and community leaders are combined with findings from prior studies of corporate citizenship, and the evidence clearly indicates that the majority of businesses provide some form of community support. Most owners feel they should do more than just make a profit, so they often seek ways to give back to their communities, a move that is usually nurtured within the business community itself. However, corporate altruism carries risks. Many business owners have unwittingly offended customers and clients by their acts of civic spirit. Besser concludes her book by addressing the potential threats to business social responsibility posed by globalization and recommends steps to enhance socially responsible capitalism. Anybody interested in the complex interaction of businesses and the communities they reside in will enjoy reading this positive revisitation of the mutually supportive relationship between trade and polity.

About the Author: TERRY L. BESSER is Associate Professor of Sociology at Iowa State University. She is the author of Team Toyota: Transplanting the Toyota Culture to the Camry Plant in Kentucky.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Conscience of Capitalism: Business ...
Publisher: Praeger (UK)
Publication Date: 2002
Binding: hardcover
Condition: Very Good