Responsibility and Social Capital: The World of SMEs

This book makes fascinating and sometimes surprising reading for all those concerned with the role business plays in society. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social capital are important contemporary concepts, high on the agenda of governments, corporations and civil society organizations. In this book these issues are investigated through empirical studies from Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Despite the fact that over ninety percent of private businesses are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), little has been written elsewhere about CSR and social capital as it applies to this important organizational type. The book brings together theoretical discussions of the concepts concerned with a range of illuminating research on SMEs. It offers valuable insights to those studying CSR or business ethics, enterprise studies or management more generally. It will also be of interest to researchers, business intermediaries, local and national government and SMEs concerned with issues of responsibility and social capital.