Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics

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Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics Corporate social responsibility and business ethics are terms that are often found in business and academic literature. Today these terms have been used quite frequently when talking about the economy and everything going on. These controversies range from the company Enron, to the bailout of AIG and the top executives going on a vacation after the bailout, to the banks making risky loans. According to Dictionary.com business ethics is defined as “the study and examination of moral and social responsibility in relation to business practices and decision-making in business” (Business). Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be defined as “a concept where organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities, and other stakeholders, as well as the environment”(Corporate). This responsibility tends to extend beyond the statutory obligation to abide by legislation and organizations voluntarily take steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as local community members and society in general. Now by corporations accepting social responsibility controversy has been sparked as whether they should be or just continue focusing on maximization of profits. In an article by Laurent Belsie, he says, “By accepting more social responsibility, they’re taking on more power just as a small but growing backlash against rising corporate power is taking hold in the United States” (McAdams and Neslund 93). During demonstrations in Seattle at the World Trade Organization (WTO) a question was the main focus in the debate: “Who should set society’s agenda-big business or big government?” While others feel by being social responsible corporations are gaining power others feel

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