Corporate Responsibility in Europe : Government Involvement in Sector-Specific Initiatives

Governments have become increasingly aware of the potential contribution that a business can make to the public good by living up to its corporate responsibility (CR). But businesses differ by size, ownership structure, and sector. It is the sector, in particular, that largely determines how companies identify common risks and create mutual windows of opportunity through collective action. So how do governments take into account sector-related differences when they try to promote CR among industries? What are good examples of sector-specific instruments and policies? What lessons can be learned, and what challenges lie ahead?

This study explores sector-specific corporate responsibility. It analyzes specific examples of how national, regional, and local authorities foster CR in the chemicals and chemical products industry, wholesale and retail trade, construction, information and communication technologies, and financial services industries across eight European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK).

Thomas Beschorner is chair for business ethics and director of the Institute of Business Ethics at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and professeur associé at the CCEAE, Université de Montréal.

Thomas Hajduk is a research assistant at the Institute of Business Ethics at the University of St. Gallen.

Samuil Simeonov is a project manager in the department "Business in Society" of the Bertelsmann Stiftung.