Nature of corporate responsibilities - Perspectives from American, French, and German consumers

More and more businesses adopt socially responsible initiatives based on the assumption that consumers actively support responsible organizations. Yet, little is known about the meaning and importance of corporate responsibilities for consumers in different countries. This study compares how consumers in the US, France, and Germany evaluate corporate responsibilities both toward society in general and toward organizational stakeholders. The findings reveal significant differences between the US and the two European nations and provide guidance to build the image of a responsible organization internationally. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.