The Socio-Economic Impact of CSR. A Case Study of Swedish-related Companies and Corporate Social Responsibility in Vietnam

Abstract

In 2007 it was decided that Sweden would phase out its development cooperation with Vietnam by the end of 2013. The Swedish private business sector was then seen as an important actor in continuing the relationship with Vietnam and contributing to socio-economic development. It is the position of the Swedish government that the contribution of private companies to development is reinforced when companies adhere to international standards of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Employing critical perspectives on CSR and development, the purpose of this report is provide a broader understanding of whether CSR can be a meaningful tool in contributing to socio-economic development in the municipalities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. The results imply that CSR has the potential to be a meaningful instrument in this local context. However, the relationship between CSR and development is complex. CSR initiatives and activities are not only affected by the companies themselves, how they act and the motivations behind these actions, but also by numerous factors linked to the local environment. This calls for continuing research into the impact of contextual factors on CSR efforts. The School of Public Administration at the University of Gothenburg is an accredited member of The European Association for Public Administration Accreditation. Every year, our students produce a number of master's theses of high quality. The Socio-economic Impacts of CSR is an example of an excellent master’s thesis in public administration from the fall semester 2013. The School of Public Administration is one of the participating partners of The Minor Field Studies Programme (MFS), and this study was supported by a MFS scholarship.