Harmonization of firm CSR policies across national contexts: Evidence from Brazil & Sweden. Issue 5 (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mazboudi, Mohamad; Sidani, Yusuf M.; Al Ariss, Akram
• Is Part Of: International business review. Volume 29:Issue 5(2020:Oct.)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Corporate social responsibility -- CSR policies -- Legitimacy -- Brazil -- Sweden -- Institutional theory -- Institutional voids -- Convergence -- Divergence; International business enterprises -- Periodicals; 338.8805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2020.101711
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-5931

Abstract

Highlights: Brazilian firms adopt CSR policies to a greater extent than Swedish firms. CSR policy harmonization between Brazil and Sweden occurs with internationalization. Brazilian firms seek legitimacy through CSR policies locally and internationally. Swedish firms have incentives to gain such legitimacy at the international level. Abstract: We empirically investigate differences in CSR policy adoption between Brazil and Sweden. We find that Brazilian firms adopt CSR policies to a greater extent than Swedish firms. These differences suggest that the Swedish institutional context, where the public sector is the dominant player in the social arena, may have unintended consequences on the adoption of CSR policies by the private sector. We also find that with internationalization, a trend towards harmonization in CSR policy adoption between Brazil and Sweden is likely to happen. These results suggest that Swedish firms seek to gain legitimacy through greater CSR policy adoption at the international level.