A review of corporate social responsibility in developed and developing nations

Abstract Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the gateway for corporations to combine business with ethics and is needed to expand the focus of a corporation beyond merely its own profit line. The present paper is a theoretical discussion on these practices through a critical study of research literature. Researcher seeks to discuss the meaning of CSR, before focusing on the presence and significance of CSR in developed and developing nations. There are similarities between CSR trends in the two distinct fields such as emotion‐oriented CSR programs and use of media for corporate image building. In contrast, major differences can be found in the role of governments among developed and developing countries in relation to CSR activities. Finally, the researcher also presents a look into the impact of CSR in shaping future progress for developing countries. The paper is purely a reflection and comparative review of existing research literature from various countries in the world.