IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/ijocsr/v4y2019i1d10.1186_s40991-019-0040-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multinational companies: can they foster well-being in the eyes of the poor? Results from an empirical case study

Author

Listed:
  • Harald Strotmann

    (Pforzheim University)

  • Jürgen Volkert

    (Pforzheim University)

  • Melinda Schmidt

    (Pforzheim University)

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is supposed to benefit corporations but as well to foster the well-being of individuals, communities and society. However, there is still a lack of reliable evaluation results of CSR’s effectiveness and efficiency. In addition, development researchers complain that, despite CSR’s claim and implicit hypothesis of mutually beneficial impacts, business studies, notably when addressing CSR impacts on the poor, do not sufficiently understand and take account of well-being effects in the eyes of the poor. The paper at hand empirically analyses the effects of a CSR strategy on the reported well-being of poor villagers in rural India. For the case of the Bayer Crop Science Model Village Project (MVP) and based upon quantitative data from a panel survey of about 2300 villagers living in some 1000 households, both descriptive analyses and multivariate analyses in this paper indicate that the activities initiated within the Model Village Project have c. p. contributed to a significant improvement of the villagers’ reported well-being from 2011 until 2014. This is confirmed firstly by comparing the well-being development in two model villages in which Bayer undertook a variety of initiatives with the corresponding well-being development in two control villages in which no activities were started. Secondly, this conclusion is also underlined by comparisons of reported well-being changes of MVP participants and non-participants within the model villages.

Suggested Citation

  • Harald Strotmann & Jürgen Volkert & Melinda Schmidt, 2019. "Multinational companies: can they foster well-being in the eyes of the poor? Results from an empirical case study," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijocsr:v:4:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1186_s40991-019-0040-0
    DOI: 10.1186/s40991-019-0040-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1186/s40991-019-0040-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1186/s40991-019-0040-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Regina Moczadlo & Harald Strotmann & Jürgen Volkert, 2015. "Corporate Contributions to Developing Health Capabilities," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(4), pages 549-566, November.
    2. Carinne Brody & Thomas de Hoop & Martina Vojtkova & Ruby Warnock & Megan Dunbar & Padmini Murthy & Shari L. Dworkin, 2017. "Can self-help group programs improve women’s empowerment? A systematic review," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 15-40, January.
    3. Charlotte M. Karam & Dima Jamali, 2017. "A Cross-Cultural and Feminist Perspective on CSR in Developing Countries: Uncovering Latent Power Dynamics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(3), pages 461-477, May.
    4. Nayan Mitra & Asif Akhtar & Ananda Das Gupta, 2018. "Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility in the post mandate period: Evidence from India," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Carol A. Tilt, 2016. "Corporate social responsibility research: the importance of context," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Joseph Kofi Acquah & Roshani Dahal, 2018. "ROSCAs as Lenders of Last Resort after Financial Crises: Lessons from Indonesia," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(7), pages 1223-1239, October.
    7. Imai, Katsushi S. & Arun, Thankom & Annim, Samuel Kobina, 2010. "Microfinance and Household Poverty Reduction: New Evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(12), pages 1760-1774, December.
    8. Amartya Sen, 2013. "The Ends and Means of Sustainability," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 6-20, February.
    9. Onyeka K. Osuji & Ugochukwu L. Obibuaku, 2016. "Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility: Competing or Complementary Approaches to Poverty Reduction and Socioeconomic Rights?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 329-347, June.
    10. Caterina Lorenzo-Molo & Zenon Udani, 2013. "Bringing Back the Essence of the “S” and “R” to CSR: Understanding the Limitations of the Merchant Trade and the White Man’s Burden," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(1), pages 123-136, September.
    11. Michael Blowfield & Catherine S. Dolan, 2014. "Business as a development agent: evidence of possibility and improbability," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 22-42, January.
    12. Swamy, Vighneswara & B K, Tulasimala, 2013. "Women Financing and Household Economics," MPRA Paper 50351, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Meera Tiwari & Solava Ibrahim, 2012. "Sustainable Human Development at the Grass Roots: Different Contexts, Similar Ingredients?," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(1), pages 69-85, November.
    14. Anoop Sadanandan, 2014. "Political economy of suicide: financial reforms, credit crunches and farmer suicides in India," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 48(4), pages 287-307, October-D.
    15. Rea Wagner & Peter Seele, 2017. "Uncommitted Deliberation? Discussing Regulatory Gaps by Comparing GRI 3.1 to GRI 4.0 in a Political CSR Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(2), pages 333-351, December.
    16. Volkert, Jürgen & Strotmann, Harald & Moczadlo, Regina, 2014. "Sustainable Human Development: Corporate challenges and potentials. The case of Bayer CropScience's cotton seed production in rural Karnataka (India)," UFZ Discussion Papers 5/2014, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Division of Social Sciences (ÖKUS).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jingran Zhu & Qinghua Song & Dalia Streimikiene, 2020. "Multi-Time Scale Spillover Effect of International Oil Price Fluctuation on China’s Stock Markets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-29, September.
    2. Ivan Montiel & Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Junghoon Park & Raquel Antolín-López & Bryan W. Husted, 2021. "Implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 999-1030, July.
    3. Zhigang Ouyang & Fengyu Liu & Ge Zhai & Svitlana Bilan, 2020. "Assessment of Resident Happiness under Uncertainty of Economic Policies: Empirical Evidences from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paul Anand & Swati Saxena & Rolando Gonzales Martinez & Hai-Anh H. Dang, 2020. "Can Women’s Self-help Groups Contribute to Sustainable Development? Evidence of Capability Changes from Northern India," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 137-160, April.
    2. Harald Strotmann & Jürgen Volkert, 2018. "Multidimensional Poverty Index and Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 167-189, January.
    3. David Benjamin Billedeau & Jeffrey Wilson & Naima Samuel, 2022. "From Responsibility to Requirement: COVID, Cars, and the Future of Corporate Social Responsibility in Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, May.
    4. Asad K. Ghalib & Issam Malki & Katsushi S. Imai, 2012. "Microfinance and its role in household poverty reduction: findings from Pakistan," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 17312, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    5. Baccar, Mariem & Raynal, Hélène & Sekhar, Muddu & Bergez, Jacques-Eric & Willaume, Magali & Casel, Pierre & Giriraj, P. & Murthy, Sanjeeva & Ruiz, Laurent, 2023. "Dynamics of crop category choices reveal strategies and tactics used by smallholder farmers in India to cope with unreliable water availability," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    6. Michael Danquah & Abdul Malik Iddrisu & Peter Quartey & Williams Ohemeng & Alfred Barimah, 2021. "Rural financial intermediation and poverty reduction in Ghana: A micro‐level analysis," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(4), pages 316-334, December.
    7. Fabien Martinez, 2014. "Corporate strategy and the environment: towards a four-dimensional compatibility model for fostering green management decisions," Post-Print hal-02887618, HAL.
    8. Roy, Shalini & Hidrobo, Melissa & Hoddinott, John F. & Ahmed, Akhter, 2021. "Transfers, behavior change communication, and intimate partner violence: Post-program evidence from rural Bangladesh," IFPRI book chapters, in: Securing food for all in Bangladesh, chapter 15, pages 549-590, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Imai, Katsushi S. & Gaiha, Raghav & Thapa, Ganesh & Annim, Samuel Kobina, 2012. "Microfinance and Poverty—A Macro Perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(8), pages 1675-1689.
    10. Katsushi S. Imai & Raghav Gaiha & Ganesh Thapa & Samuel Kobina Annim & Aditi Gupta, 2012. "Financial Performance of Microfinance Institutions-A Macroeconomic and Institutional Perspective," Discussion Paper Series DP2012-04, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University.
    11. Kochar, Anjini & Nagabhushana, Closepet & Sarkar, Ritwik & Shah, Rohan & Singh, Geeta, 2022. "Financial access and women's role in household decisions: Empirical evidence from India's National Rural Livelihoods project," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    12. Caroline S. Archambault, 2013. "“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”: The Role of International Maasai Migrants in Rural Sustainable Community Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-14, August.
    13. Yuka Fujimoto & Jasim Uddin, 2022. "Inclusive Leadership for Reduced Inequality: Economic–Social–Economic Cycle of Inclusion," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(3), pages 563-582, December.
    14. Rajat Deb, 2016. "Determinants of Savings in Sukanya Samriddhi Account: Evidence from Tripura," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 5(2), pages 120-140, July.
    15. Nicolas Garcia‐Torea & Belen Fernandez‐Feijoo & Marta De La Cuesta, 2020. "CSR reporting communication: Defective reporting models or misapplication?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 952-968, March.
    16. Svatava Janoušková & Tomáš Hák & Bedřich Moldan, 2018. "Global SDGs Assessments: Helping or Confusing Indicators?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, May.
    17. Veldhuizen, Caroline, 2020. "Smart Specialisation as a transition management framework: Driving sustainability-focused regional innovation policy?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(6).
    18. Md. Abdul Kaium Masud & Mohammad Sharif Hossain & Jong Dae Kim, 2018. "Is Green Regulation Effective or a Failure: Comparative Analysis between Bangladesh Bank (BB) Green Guidelines and Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-19, April.
    19. Palash Kamruzzaman, 2017. "Understanding the Role of National Development Experts in Development Ethnography," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 35(1), pages 39-63, January.
    20. Yoann Verger, 2018. "First steps for a Sraffian ecological economics. An answer to Martins' “The Classical Circular Economy, Sraffian Ecological Economics and the Capabilities Approach”," Working Papers hal-01700228, HAL.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:ijocsr:v:4:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1186_s40991-019-0040-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.