Public policy and social responsibility in sponsorship

Public policy and corporate social responsibility (CSR) often cross paths in sponsorship. Public policy is governmental action at local, regional, national or international levels designed to address issues of public concern, while CSR is the way a company manages its overall impacts on and contributions to society. Both the history and the forms of CSR are discussed. Importantly, in sponsoring, policy and CSR come into play when controversial products such as tobacco, gambling, alcohol and unhealthy food and drink brands are sponsors. Topics important in this space such as vulnerability and commercialization are discussed as are consumer defense mechanisms.