Winds of change: Corporate social responsibility in China

Over the past few years, news reports have highlighted various incidents that demonstrate poor corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in China. Worker suicides, faulty consumer products, toxic emissions in the countryside, overworked and underpaid employees have all been major topics in the popular press. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo has also raised awareness of social issues and the fallout facing China and its organizations. Given this negative publicity and the social notion of “saving face,” China's government and industrial organizations have attempted to make sea changes in corporate practices. Although there is a perception that these changes are being adopted at a snail’s pace, the fact is that a move to assume greater CSR is actively under way.