Social Corporate Responsibility In Brazil: Making A Difference

In line with a worldwide trend, the corporate social responsibility has been a growing concern for Brazilian companies not only to improve their public image, but also, and especially, as a tool for social integration and community development.

If, during most of the 20th century, companies' concerns were essentially directed towards production efficiency and the pursuit of larger consumer markets and profits, with little regard for issues such as quality control, consumer rights, social and environmental management, today this conduct has become unthinkable.

Undoubtedly, the evolution of the Brazilian civil, labor, social security and environmental laws contributed to the inclusion of social and community issues in the Brazilian companies' concerns. Nonetheless, the growing influence of the public opinion and the undeniable strengthening of the bargaining power of clients/ consumers vis-à-vis a scenario of sharp business competition were and are still decisive