Changes in corporate practices in response to public interest advocacy and actions: the role of consumer boycotts and socially responsible corporate social responsibility

Smith, N C (2000) Changes in corporate practices in response to public interest advocacy and actions: the role of consumer boycotts and socially responsible corporate social responsibility. Working Paper. London Business School Centre for Marketing Working Paper.

Abstract

The central proposition advanced in this paper is that corporate practices have changed in response to public interest group use or threat of consumer boycotts and these changes have often benefited societal welfare. The paper reviews evidence in support of these claims, acknowledging its limitations and, in particular, the paucity of empirical research of consumer boycotts. It highlights the need for further research on this important topic. The paper briefly introduces public interest groups and the various pressures they can exert on the corporation and then discusses the concept of corporate social responsibility. Next, it turns to a review of the research and related literatures on consumer boycotts. This discussion focuses on boycotts that protest perceived failings of corporate social responsibility and business ethics (consumer boycotts have been organized to protest other issues, such as price increases). The paper concludes by identifying opportunities and needs for future research.