Corporate social responsibility in Latvia: a benchmark study

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this is to present the characteristics of emerging concepts and practices of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Latvia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper includes reviews of CSR concepts and related values, a mail survey of CSR benchmarks, action research on emerging SCR programs, and concluding remarks on prospective CSR development. Survey data are supplemented with validation checks and selected interviews. This empirical survey information is intended be the starting point for comparative studies of CSR in Latvia.

Findings

The survey shows understanding and CSR applications at a very early stage of development. Minimization of external social costs is unknown to most respondents. Conceptual understanding is complicated by traditional beliefs in conflict with remnants of collectivist expectations. Follow up interviews suggest the most common CSR principle is the ethical “doing right” to achieve business goals. As related research done by authors of this study show, these goals are shaped by institutional environment and the personal values. Significant CSR is practiced by larger firms. Education, personal and public communications are the expected change factors.

Research limitations/implications

The basic weakness is that the external cost concept is new to respondents. Wider CSR acceptance is linkable to a situation where personal and public communications and education are major factors of change.

Originality/value

The information and related analyses of CSR extend the original survey data, first published in Latvian. This first study of externalities leads to further study of CSR and related strategic actions.

Citation

Pētersons, A. and King, G.J. (2009), "Corporate social responsibility in Latvia: a benchmark study", Baltic Journal of Management, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 106-118. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465260910930485