Social and Environmental Responsibility in Small and Medium Enterprises in Latin America

Abstract

The survey reported in this study finds that a good number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have implemented responsible practices. In general, SMEs by their very nature are local institutions whose owners/managers, customers and workers come from the same community. Because SMEs have relatively few employees, many of them are known to the managers and owners, leading to a more tangible concern for their well-being. SMEs normally struggle to survive under adverse economic conditions and, as a result, regulations tend to be more burdensome for them than for larger corporations. The productive structure of Latin American SMEs is heavily polarised. Some larger enterprises enjoy international exposure, while a very large number of SMEs are mostly concerned with local markets, at best supplying large international firms. While the definition of corporate social responsibility differs by country, by CSR-promoting organisation, and even by individual firms, which will have their own interpretation, the survey asked very specific questions and avoided generalisations.