Corporate social responsibility: to the issue of origins

Abstract

The article substantiates the need for a unified approach to the study of such economic phenomena as corporate social responsibility, business ethics, corporate culture and sustainable development. The author proposes to develop A. Carroll’s ideas on the gradual increase in the level of social responsibility of business as it develops on the basis of the renewability principle of economic and non-economic benefits. The objective nature of business participation in the production of not only economic, but also non-economic resources is substantiated. Risks for businesses of prematurely taking on excess obligations are noted. The article explains the need for an existential choice of the enterprise management to take responsibility for the consequences of its activities as a condition for implementing the concept of corporate social responsibility. The implementation of this choice occurs at a certain level of development of the individuals involved in the business.