EC340A-Corporate Social Responsibility 1

Module Provider: Economics
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level: H (Honours)
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Spring
Module Convenor: Dr S Pavelin
Pre-requisites: EC201A EC202A and EC203A
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2008/9

Email: s.pavelin@reading.ac.uk

Aims:
The module aims to provide an understanding of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its implications for firm strategy. An emphasis is placed upon the role social responsiveness plays in managing a firm’s relationships with stakeholder constituencies. Within that context, the need for a firm to fit social performance to its stakeholder environment is explored, as is the effect of CSR activism on financial performance and reputation. Furthermore, key issues are further explored and evaluated through consideration of relevant empirical literatures.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Students will be assessed on their knowledge of some key theoretical and empirical issues that pertain to corporate social responsibility. These include: the different types of CSR activities, and their effects; explanations of CSR derived from Stakeholder theory and an implicit contracts approach; the links between CSR and each of corporate reputation, the financial performance of firms, geographical diversification and corporate governance.

Additional outcomes:
Students should be able to apply this analysis to enterprises and markets in different countries and at different times. They should also be able to apply them either from the perspective of an individual enterprise or from the perspective of a public policy maker.

Outline content:
The module includes the following topics: the various forms of CSR activities and their impacts; the responsibilities of businesses; stakeholder theory; implicit contracts and CSR; corporate reputation: types, determinants, effects; the links between social performance and financial performance; corporate governance and CSR; CSR and the geographical diversification of firms.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
A combination of lectures, seminar discussions of assigned topics and problems, and assessed essays.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	7 x 2hrs	4 x 2hrs	3 x 1hr
Tutorials/seminars	4 x 1hr	2 x 1hr
Practicals
Other contact (eg study visits)
Total hours	18	10	3
Number of essays or assignments	1 essay	1 essay
Other (eg major seminar paper)

Assessment:
Coursework
Two essays – one to be completed by the end of the Autumn term, and one to be completed in the Spring term.

Relative percentage of coursework
Coursework has a weight of 20% in the final examination (10% for each essay).

Penalties for late submission
Penalties for late submission will be in accordance with the University policy.
Unless an extension has been agreed beforehand, any work submitted after the deadline will be subject to a 10 out of 100 mark penalty deduction for work submitted between one and seven calendar days late, after which zero will be awarded.

Examination
One 2-hour unseen written paper.
Part 3 Final examinations begin in the third week of the Summer term.

Requirements for a pass
A minimum mark of 40%.

Reassessment arrangements
Re-examination for Finals takes place in August/September of the same year.

Last updated: 1 August 2008