infonet-economy

In this paper, we examine the process of global corporate social responsibility(CSR) standardization. By drawing on neo-institutionalist theories we distinguishbetween the breadth and depth dimension of CSR standardization. Based on our empirical study of the “Equator Principles”, a CSR standard in the field of international project finance, we exemplify that CSR standards indeed candisseminate rapidly and widely within an industry (breadth dimension). However,we also show that their impact is contingent upon discursive negotiation processesthat affect whether the formal adoption of a standard is perceived as meaningfuland legitimate, in turn engendering the actual organizational implementation ofpractices (depth dimension).