Re-thinking corporate social responsibility

This thesis provides a case study of the Chilean salmon industry, in a quest to identify the social, economic, and environmental effects of trade liberalization and examine if, and how, corporate social responsibility can be an effective corporate solution to the shortcomings of the trade led growth model. It is concluded that, whereas the reduction of trade barriers and integration into world market can be an engine of growth, it fails to secure an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable development, reflected in poor income distribution, social exclusion of economically vulnerable groups, low wages, and environmental degradation. Lax regulation and a high reliance on self-regulation has been insufficient to effectively address these problems. In conclusion, leaving CSR to the voluntary act of business and the invisible hands of the free marked will do little or no good. However, the problem it not CSR per se, rather how it was used. Consequently, this thesis calls for the need to rethink the concept of CSR.