Vol. 1 (2024)
Original Articles

Public and Corporate socio-territorial policies. CSR as strategy for a new and enlarged social sustainability

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  • Letizia Carrera
Letizia Carrera
University of Bari Aldo Moro

Published 2024-12-16

Keywords

  • private-public network,
  • corporate social responsibility,
  • socio-territorial sustainability,
  • communities,
  • territories,
  • quality of life
    • ...More
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Copyright (c) 2024 Letizia Carrera

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The paper emphasizes the growing importance of public-private partnerships in fostering socio-territorial sustainability. It highlights a shift away from the traditional view of businesses as “irresponsible” and driven by predatory motives, toward seeing them as active partners in public policy and governance. Corporate social responsibility is positioned as a key driver of this change, with a focus on engaging businesses in collaborative efforts with public institutions. The study reviews international literature and conducts empirical research involving 100 small and medium-sized enterprises in Bari, examining their corporate welfare practices and engagement with local communities. The findings underscore the importance of business-public sector collaboration in promoting sustainability, revealing both the potential and limitations of corporate social sustainability as not only a cultural paradigm but also a practical tool for business decision-making and territorial governance. This approach aligns with the quintuple helix model, which integrates various sectors in addressing societal challenges.

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