CSR in the extractive industries and its effect on mining-affected communities in developing countries: A meta-analysis

Numerous articles have addressed the role and impact of CSR of extractive companies on developing countries. Yet, research is scattered and based on single or small-N case studies that place emphasis on a limited number of issues. Therefore, we conduct a synthesis of existing research (including case studies from researchers and practitioners) in order to generate a deeper understanding of the practice of CSR and its impact on local mining communities. In particular, we focus on the consequences (both positive and negative) of foreign companies taking over government tasks such as providing health care or building local infrastructure such as schools and roads. Moreover, our analysis draws a clearer picture of the current state of knowledge regarding mechanisms, challenges of CSR in an extractive industries context as well as on potential reasons for mismanagement and their contingency factors. Based on the identified state of the art, we point towards research gaps that require more in-depth analysis while at the same time providing insights that may help to encourage future quantitative research. Through synthesis of existing scholarly and practitioner literature, we contribute to the literature by 1) offering a broader and more holistic perspective on the current state of CSR practices of extractive companies in developing countries, 2) identifying reoccurring patterns of negative and positive effects of these practices on local communities, 3) shedding light on contingency factors that affect the impact of certain CSR practices, and 4) outlining a possible research agenda