 Corporate social responsibility at the base of the pyramidDenis G. Arnold and Andres Valentin Journal of Business Research, 2013, vol. 66, issue 10, 1904-1914 Abstract: The base of the pyramid proposition holds that transnational corporations (TNCs) can profitably serve the needs of the poor at the base of the global economic pyramid. This article explores the ethical dimensions of business ventures targeting the 2.6billion moderate and extremely poor (MEP) at the base of the pyramid. It is shown that MEP populations are both cognitively and socially vulnerable, rendering them susceptible to harmful exploitation. We defend an empowerment theory of morally legitimate BoP business ventures and provide a multi-stage opportunity assessment process that allows TNC managers to determine when BoP ventures should be pursued and when they should be abandoned. This analysis is used to demonstrate the inadequacy of an instrumental, or economic, conception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and to defend an ethical conception of CSR. Keywords: Base of the pyramid; Corporate social responsibility; Ethical CSR; Poverty; Legitimacy; Exploitation; Empowerment; Capabilities; Human rights; International business (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:66:y:2013:i:10:p:1904-1914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.02.012 Access Statistics for this article Journal of Business Research is currently edited by A. G. Woodside More articles in Journal of Business Research from Elsevier |
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