ABSTRACT
Forthepurposesofthischapter,IdefineCSRasaconsistentpattern,atthevery
least,ofprivatefirmsdoingmorethantheyarerequiredtodounderapplicablelaws andregulationsgoverningtheenvironment,workersafetyandhealth,andinvestments
inthecommunitiesinwhichtheyoperate.4Thus,underthisdefinition,afirmmust
requiredtodobyenvironmentalauthoritiestobeconsideredaspracticingCSR.
Itmustroutinelyreduceriskstothesafetyandhealthofitsemployeestolevels wellbelowthoserequiredbylawtobeapractitionerofCSR.Anditmustinvest
moreinthosecommunitiesinwhichitsfacilitiesarelocatedthanitisrequired
todoinordertobegrantedanoperatingpermit-say,intheformofroadbuilding,schoolconstruction,theprovisionofhealthservicesorsubsidiesforthe
arts-tobeconsideredtobeengaginginCSR. Thisdefinitionisnotperfect.Indeed,Iwillreturntoitlatertosuggestrespects
inwhichitisunsatisfactorytoatleastsomeproponentsofCSR,andtomeas
well.Butitleaveslesstotheimaginationthandefinitionsthatmakereferenceto
sustainabledevelopmentorotherequallyevanescentconcepts.Similarly,itis muchmoreconcretethanthedescriptionofCSRbyHolliday,Schmidheiny,and
Watts,whosuggestthatitspractitioners"focusonindividuals,""instillanethic ofeducation,""putemployeesfirst,""keepCSRdebates...transparent,"and
"reportexternally[to]allstakeholders,notjustthoseontheirmailinglistoron
theInternet."5AlthoughthesetermsarehelpfulinunderstandingwhatproponentsofCSRarereferringto,Ibelievemymoreconcretedefinitionismore
workableandalsoquiteconsistentwiththeirideals.
