Markets and organizations

The WWWforEurope research project proposes a comprehensive strategy to set Europe on a dynamic path to a socio-ecological transition. This part reports on the results of different models and presents research findings in the five areas which were inputs for part one "Synthesis". It is based on more than 160 new research papers, produced by 34 research groups cooperating in the project, but also on existing literature.

Regardless of the extensive evolution of the Chinese legal and economic system, there is at present a considerable “mismatch” between the WTO’s transparency requirements and the Chinese administrative legal regime. While the Standing Council’s recent reforms have marked a “positive reaction to the situation”, they are not yet sufficient for the successful implementation of China’s transparency obligations.89 Certainly, considering the arduous nature of China’s unprecedented WTOplus commitments, it is not far-fetched to assume that China could likely never be fully compliant; and therein lies the first of China’s many obstacles.

Australia proposes legislation modeled on section 54 of the UK's Modern Slavery Act (2015). The proposed legislation should preserve those of its current elements (such as not including legislated penalties for non-reporting) that are calculated to encourage widespread and pro-active business uptake and engagement. This is because the point of all this is not the adoption of ‘tough’ regulatory postures for their own sake (even if these were politically viable): instead the point is to find ways to incentivise and support Australian entities to systematically identify and to prevent or address the underlying human rights risks.

Sustainable development has provided a significant conceptual approach for the solutions of problems on the triangle of industrialization, urbanization, and population increase. In order to advance the current and future welfare of its members, European Union (EU) has worked to build its development model on the principles of sustainability. The involvement of business organizations to this process is viewed critical to achieve the overarching sustainability principle. However the adoption of sustainability seems to be more problematic among the organizations in the new member and candidate states. The aim of current study is to discuss why and how corporate social responsibility (CSR) can provide a useful framework for these countries in their integration process to EU's sustainability policy. In the study, after examining the current understanding of CSR in these countries, a network oriented approach is proposed to contribute to the generation of a sustainable future in an enlarged Europe.

This Quarterly Report refers to recent developments concerning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Most importantly, the new Communication on CSR that was published by the European Commission in late October 2011 will be presented and discussed with two leading policy makers. We talked with Tom Dodd (DG Enterprise and Industry), who was one of the key actors in preparing the new Communication, and with Sue Bird (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), who is in charge of co-ordinating the CSR High Level Group. During the last months, we collected and analysed these policy documents, both from EU Member States and from countries outside the EU. The results are presented in the second part of this report, where you can find comprehensive overviews as well as three case studies of outstanding approaches (Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands). Our aim is to demonstrate the diverse roles of CSR strategies and action plans in Europe and beyond.

Environmental law should aim for sustainability, but New Zealand’s approach to the problem of climate change falls short of the mark. Through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, New Zealand has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. The nation has two principal relevant environmental statutes: the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Climate Change Response Act 2002. In 2004, the government amended the former to explicitly refer to climate change, but removed consideration of greenhouse gas emissions from council decision-making. In 2008, the government amended the latter to create New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme. Despite these statutes, New Zealand’s emissions have increased by over a quarter since 1990. In November 2008, New Zealanders elected a new government, which promptly announced that the Emissions Trading Scheme would be put on hold and the Resource Management Act reviewed. Thus, uncertainty surrounds both New Zealand’s regulatory and economic approaches to the problem of climate change. Moreover, the government created a special select committee to review the Emissions Trading Scheme, and included scientific consideration of climate change in its terms of reference. This essay is a critique of New Zealand’s climate change policy, based upon the principle of sustainability. First, it discusses the problem of climate change. Second, it suggests that the solution is sustainability. Third, it assesses whether New Zealand’s law meets the sustainability objective, in principle or practice, by assessing the international legal commitments and national legal approaches taken. Finally, it considers the possible outcomes of both review processes. Ultimately, it concludes that the best approach to take is to strengthen both the Emissions Trading Scheme and Resource Management Act, applying both regulatory and economic approaches to the problem of climate change.

Spain is one of the countries with the lowest social spending within the EU-15, and its welfare state has developed later and with less intensity. At the end of the 20 th century, Spain became an immigration country, reaching 5.7 million immigrants in 2011. This article explores how the definition of migrant 'integration' is based more on a concept of universal rights and social cohesion by the main actors (political parties, trade unions, third sector organizations and immigrant associations) than on a notion of a cultural type. We will also analyze how the influence of European policies and restrictive liberalism have led to the implementation of programmes which aim to make civic integration compulsory for the renewal of residence and work permits. The empirical evidence for this article stems from 60 qualitative interviews with social actors in migrant integration policies during 2010 and 2011. The impact of the economic crisis on the foreign population, especially regarding its position in the labor market, will also be considered, explaining the reduction of specific and general policies targeting the migrant population. This cut in social spending has involved a deinstitutionalization of this particular policy field.

On 23rd June the UK will hold a referendum on whether to remain a member of the European Union or to leave. On 24th the markets and the odd-makers were caught off guard by the U.K.'s vote to leave the European Union. The immediate reaction in the financial markets was swift and violent owing to the surprise. Financial markets will likely calm somewhat after a period of shock and awe, but will find themselves settling into an entirely new vector of macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.

Seminar paper.  Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences had a seminar with representatives of Indonesian private universities. The paper discusses various topics relevant to the development and management of universities. A true sense of serving was highlighted by VU University in Amsterdam. A discussion about this was elaborated to apply to building strong van relevant higher education for the present generation.

ABSTRACT: The growing interest in neoliberalism and neoliberalisation has produced a wave of academic production, but also criticisms toward these concepts. They concern the conditions under which they may actually work as both/either explanans and/or explanandum of transformations affecting contemporary societies. The main accusations made are presented and compared with the actual uses of these catego-ries, building above all on the applications made in the articles that follow in this special issue.
It is argued that this pair of concepts may help to detect critical processes descriptively, but so far it has not been able to provide explanations. Working more as descriptors, or identifiers of processes and out-comes they, rather, provide indirect paths to explanation, by becoming explananda themselves. It is easier to understand the “why” of social processes and changes starting from these concepts and turning to oth-er “real” theories than by direct use of them. In order to do that we need to operationalize neoliberalism and neoliberalisation as articulated ideal types, so as to take into account the existing varieties of policies, practices and relationships. This is still to be done and looks a lot like being a collective effort based on cumulative research and theorization.

Social development and social rights are two big concepts in Social Policy. This essay examines whether the former requires the latter. I argue that it does. My central argument is aligned with Hartley Dean’s contention that social rights are part of the social development process (2015: 135). I will deliver two main points which are based upon the conceptual and practical relationship between those two concepts, then set up a case study on Indonesian Government right-based approach to development. Furthermore, this essay will explores the cultural critique of my stance and demonstrates the possible implications of expanding development without social rights.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby companies ideally run social functions in addition to its primary business function. The purpose of this study is to analyse the effect of CSR on business reputation and business performance. Using the banking industry population in Bali, the samples determined by using purposive sampling technique. Collected data were analyzed with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using the Partial Least Square (PLS) method. The result shows that CSR does not have a significant positive effect on business performance; but does have a significant effect on the business reputation. While the business reputation has significant positive effect on business performance this study found that CSR actually have an indirect effect on business performance through the business reputation.

There is increasing reason to believe that the world's financial crisis is inextricably linked to the environmental crisis, both because current corporate practices contribute to environmental degradation but also because global climate change threatens to impact upon the way in which business can continue to function profitably and sustainably. After summarizing some key reasons for moving beyond the traditional dichotomy between "environment" and "economy," the paper argues for a need to better integrate the fields of business ethics and environmental ethics. The final section of the paper presents some strategies for increased awareness and behavior modification within the corporate sector.

While it is generally agreed that companies need to manage their relationships with their stakeholders, the way in which they choose to do so varies considerably. In this paper, it is argued that when companies want to communicate with stakeholders about their CSR ...

It is the wickedest of problems. If what we know is truly embedded in practice, in our routines, habits, and embodied performances (Carolan 2011), than we have to do food futures before we perceive them. How do you enact an alternative reality before thinking it? Without coming right out and saying it, this Special Issue collectively attempts to make sense of this complex emergent nexus between practice, thought, doing, and being. It also shows, leaving the reader (hopefully) more hopeful about the future of food, that enacting alternatives is not

(A Report for the Irish Cancer Society)

Free trade agreements and investment treaties have the stated aims of promoting economic activity and growth through increased global trade and investment flows. The presumption that broader societal benefits—such as improved population health—will trickle down from such market liberalisation is called into question by deepening levels of social and economic inequality around the world. Against this backdrop, the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the European Union has generated concern as to its potential effects on public interest regulatory space and standards. The present study seeks to build on and deepen the existing research and analysis in this regard, with the specific purpose of clarifying and evaluating TTIP’s implications on health policy in Ireland. The clear conclusion drawn from the study is that the predicted economic benefits from TTIP are too small or speculative to justify the associated social risks.

Environmental factors impact on the enjoyment of human rights in a number of ways. However, the exact nature of the relationship between the environment and human rights in international human rights law remains unsettled, most notably in relation to the concept of a human right to a good environment. While the idea of a substantive right to an environment of a particular quality has received considerable support, it has yet to be adopted in any international legal instrument and remains the subject of much debate. This thesis interrogates the concept of a right to a good environment from a variety of perspectives to provide a comprehensive analysis of its suitability for inclusion in international human rights law. Given that climate change represents the biggest environmental challenge to have faced the international community, the thesis considers whether the right to a good environment is capable of providing new approaches for addressing the human rights implications of climate change. This thesis analyses the theoretical, legal, practical and political implications of the right to a good environment. It considers the theoretical foundations of human rights to assess whether the right is justifiable. It is concluded that a ‘good environment’ cannot be linked to human dignity, autonomy or interests without relying on rights which are already protected under existing law, such as the rights to health, food and water. It concludes that, without an independent justification, legal recognition of the right would risk undermining the existing human rights framework. The thesis also considers existing human rights approaches to environmental protection and to climate change in particular to determine whether a new right offers any significant practical benefits which might otherwise justify its recognition. The transnational, cumulative and ongoing impacts of climate change create significant challenges for enforcing human rights and it is argued that these effects would be even more problematic in relation to the right to a good environment. Because international legal recognition of new human rights depends on having the support of States, the thesis considers the current attitudes of States towards environmental human rights and human rights approaches to climate change. States are currently reluctant to acknowledge that they owe human rights obligations with respect to climate change and it is argued that they would be particularly unwilling to accept obligations under a new right to a good environment. Without the support of States, there is little likelihood that the right to a good environment would be adopted into international human rights law. The thesis concludes that continued proposals to recognise the right to a good environment in international law should be abandoned. The various theoretical, legal, practical and political considerations examined in the thesis indicate that it is not possible to settle on a definition of the right which would be both practically useful and independently justifiable. Further attention should instead be directed to clarifying the application of existing human rights law to environmental degradation, including the impacts of climate change.

To shed further light on the debate concerning the value and success of corporate social responsibility, this working paper examines the legal status of CSR within the globalised free market framework. The overarching question is how and to what extent free market theory influences the success of corporate social responsibility. It is found that the heart of corporate social responsibility lies in the value of its underlying social and environmental norms, and that its success has been inhibited by the self-destructive and inaccurate conception of globalised 'free' markets.

For decades technological and economic progress under the capitalist model has placed social norms and the natural environment under great pressure, imposing a particularly heavy burden on the poor and underprivileged. Recognising the role of corporations in these developments, the emergence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been hailed as the metaphorical beacon of light to tackle the dark side of capitalism.

Despite high expectations, corporate integration of socially responsible norms and practices has been slow and partial, limited to a small number of corporate leaders. Many commentators have voiced the need for harder forms of law to enforce CSR norms, but there has been little political interest to answer this call. The traditional academic response to the sluggish embrace of CSR has been to simply re-emphasise the need for hard law as a prerequisite to accelerate change, but this approach has had little success. This thesis expands the debate and discusses why the emergence of hard law to tackle pressing social and environmental issues has remained hidden within the hopeful mind of a vocal civil society and the writings of academics.

By examining the broader context within which CSR has developed, this paper identifies neoliberalism, the dominant free-market oriented socio-political theory of our time, as an overlooked factor undermining the success of CSR. Free markets, as conceptualised by neoliberalism, have resulted in a close-minded discussion of regulatory options and an overemphasis on the business case of CSR. This has precluded the legal inclusion of strict social and environmental standards in corporate activities and dimmed the potential of corporate social responsibility.