Rising externality costs and corporate social responsibility. Case: EU legislation on Electric and Electronic Equipment

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to study how we may identify the link between rising externality costs and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by using a market centric approach to CSR. Design/methodology/approach – We use indicators measuring CSR performances triggered by rising externality costs due to the EU legislation on electric and electronic equipment (EEE). The case study includes three leading companies in the global electric appliances industry. Findings – The EU legislation on EEE has increased the externality costs of the electric appliances industry. Some companies only meet the minimum requirements of the legislation, while others go beyond what is required and engage in CSR. We find that the strongest CSR impact is related to output externalities in our sample in the EEE sector, while the strongest CSR impact in the clothing sector, in an earlier study, is related to input externalities. Practical implications – The findings suggest that governments need to adapt their CSR policies not only to general sector specific features, but in addition to the potential for reducing negative externalities in different parts of the value chain in each sector. Original value – This article contributes to a better understanding of how government policies raise the externality costs of industries which in turn lead these industries to strengthen their CSR performance. The study also demonstrates the usefulness of a market centric approach to CSR

Exploring health service preparation for the COVID-19 crisis utilizing simulation-based activities in a Norwegian hospital: a qualitative case study

Introduction The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic caused stress in healthcare organizations worldwide. Hospitals and healthcare institutions had to reorganize their services to meet the demands of the crisis. In this case study, we focus on the role of simulation as part of the pandemic preparations in a large hospital in Norway. The aim of this study is to explore hospital leaders' and simulation facilitators' expectations of, and experiences of utilizing simulation-based activities in the preparations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a qualitative case study utilizing semi-structured in-depth interviews with hospital leaders and simulation facilitators in one large hospital in Norway. The data were sorted under three predefined research topics and further analyzed by inductive, thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke within these pre-defined topics. Results Eleven members of the hospital leadership and simulation facilitators were included in the study. We identified four themes explaining why COVID-19 related simulation-based activities were initiated, and perceived consequences of the activities; 1) a multifaceted method like simulation fitted a multifaceted crisis, 2) a well-established culture for simulation in the hospital was crucial for scaling up simulation-based activities during the crisis, 3) potential risks were outweighed by the advantages of utilizing simulation-based activities, and finally 4) hospital leaders and simulation facilitators retrospectively assessed the use of simulation-based activities as appropriate to prepare for a pandemic crisis. Conclusions The hospital leadership’s decision to utilize simulation-based activities in preparing for the COVID-19 crisis may be explained by many factors. First, it seems that many years of experience with systematic use of simulation-based activities within the hospital can explain the trust in simulation as a valuable tool that were easy to reach. Second, both hospital leaders and simulation facilitators saw simulation as a unique tool for the optimization of the COVID-19 response due to the wide applicability of the method. According to hospital leaders and simulation facilitators, simulation-based activities revealed critical gaps in training and competence levels, treatment protocols, patient logistics, and environmental shortcomings that were acted upon, suggesting that institutional learning took place.publishedVersio

Bench- and pilot-scale evaluation of mercury speciation measurement methods

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments require the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the health risks associated with mercury. Since the rate of mercury deposition and the type of control strategies used may depend on the type of mercury species emitted, a proven sampling method that can reliably and accurately speciate mercury at the very low concentrations found in coal combustion flue gas is necessary. A number of mercury speciation methods have been proposed, including wet-chemistry methods, such as EPA Method 29, the Ontario Hydro method, and the tris-buffer method, as well as dry methods such as the Mercury Speciation Absorption method (MESA). In addition, a number of companies are developing continuous emissions monitors to speciate mercury by difference. Bench- and pilot-scale tests, sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the US Department of Energy (DOE), are currently under way at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) to determine the most accurate and precise mercury speciation method available. The overall objective of the test program is to determine whether EPA Method 29 or other sampling methods can reliably quantify and speciate mercury in flue gas from coal-fired boilers at both the inlet and outlet of a particulate control device such as a pulse-jet baghouse. A specific goal of the project is to determine the precision and bias of the various mercury speciation methods as a function of process variables

Determinants and impacts of Corporate Social Responsibility: a market centric approach

PhD thesis in Change managementThis thesis is based on the following papers: (paper 3 and 4 are not in open access)PAPER 1: Laudal, T. (2011) An attempt to determine the CSR potential of the international clothing business. Journal of Business Ethics, 96(1), 63-77.PAPER 2: Laudal, T. (2011).Drivers and barriers of CSR and the size and internationalization of firms. Social Responsibility Journal, 7(2)PAPER 3: Laudal, T. Determinants of a strong CSR impact. A market centric approach. Case: multinational european clothing retail Submitted to Business and Society Review.PAPER 4: Dissemination of CSR among SMEs in Poor Countries A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis Thomas LaudalPAPER 5: Rising Externality Costs and Corporate Social Responsibility. Case: EU legislation on Electric and Electronic Equipment - This article is forthcoming in Social Responsibility Journal’.Aims The main research aims of this PhD project is to contribute to a better understanding of three themes related to corporate social responsibility (CSR): First, how should we understand CSR by taking into account the core characteristics of the corporation in the market economy? Many academic contributions take the view that economic profitability is one of the social responsibilities of the firm, but few focus on the implications of the firm‟s market position for CSR. Second, how may we establish a link between CSR impact and indicators of sustainable development? It is argued that the dominant model in this area, the “triple bottom line model”, fails to point out important qualitative differences between economic, social and environmental values. Third, how does the interplay between the firm level and the societal level influence CSR? Academic articles on determinants of CSR tend to focus either on the firm level, or on the societal level. This thesis considers if, and how, CSR related features at the societal level may inform our understanding at the firm level and vice versa. In empirical analysis of CSR we consider possible implications for government policies. Market centric approach to CSR This thesis contends that we should use a “market centric approach” to better understand why and how firms seek to improve their social and natural environment. The approach is based on Bowman (1973), Sethi (1979), and Crouch (2006). CSR is here understood as efforts to internalize and institutionalize externalities produced by business transactions, prompted by the corporation‟s own business strategies or by government policies. “Internalizing” an externality indicates that a business entity bears all, or part, of the costs related to certain negative externalities, or obtains advantages related to certain positive externalities. “Institutionalizing” an externality indicates that the firm‟s organizational structure and business model is adapted in order to ensure that the externality is internalized over time. CSR performance is seen as a transitional process ending when the externality cost is institutionalized. This approach ensures that firms‟ CSR performance is understood in light of their need to perform as well as, or better, than their competitors. It is argued that this perspective not only considers the “realistic” competitive context of the firm, it also recognizes that firms have unique resources, it capitalizes on insights in economics, it addresses the interests of shareholders, and it suggests that indicators of sustainable development should be used when we measure the impact of business on its social and natural environment. When focusing on the impact on the social and natural environment, we may further distinguish between “first order CSR impact” and “second order CSR impact”. “First order CSR impact” is associated with impacts on the social and natural environment which is measured quantitatively by estimating the effects of externalities on the social and natural environment. “Second order CSR impact” is associated with the systemic impact on the social and natural environment and measured by identifying how “first order CSR impact” influences indicators of sustainable development. The second order CSR impact may also be said to be the impact of increasing entropy (the production process) on systemic conditions for sustainable development...

The Role of NGOs in Norwegian- European Relations

The aim of this study is to provide a better understand ing of the role of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and the relationship between the NGOs and the Norwegian government, in the issue area of European policies. Two ongoing processes form the background for this project: On the one hand, the Norwegian government is attempting to strengthen the involvement of NGOs in national policy-making in relation to EEA/EU policies. On the other hand, EU has initiated a process in order to improve and develop its relationship with NGOs at the European level. Although these processes are independent of each other, there are parallels and possible connections in some areas.The Ministry of Foreign Affair

Sustainability in the business school syllabus : mind the gap

This chapter concerns challenges that most professors in business schools experience when they are planning a new course, or revising an existing course, and in particular when the syllabus is highly suceptible to changes in technologies, market structures or business models.publishedVersio

Fordeler og ulemper med fritt valg av videregående skoler i Vest-Agder

Denne rapporten er resultatet av et utredningsprosjekt utført i april – mai 2003. Oppdragsgiver har vært Utdanningsavdelingen i Vest-Agder fylkeskommune. Oppdraget har vært å kartlegge synspunktene til elever og rektorer i Vest-Agder når det gjelder en eventuell overgang til fritt skolevalg. Det er også innhentet synspunkter på og erfaringer fra tre fylker der fritt skolevalg er vedtatt av fylkestinget. Prosjektet har også vurdert særtrekk ved skolesektoren i Vest-Agder som kan være av betydning for fritt skolevalg og hvordan fritt skolevalg kan fremme ulike formål.Vest-Agder fylkeskommun

Snevert om plastgjenvinning

Artikkelen har tidligere vært utgitt i tidsskriftet "Samfunnsøkonomen". Laudal, T. (2010) Snevert om plastgjenvinning. Samfunnsøkonomen, 64(3), pp. 52-53. http://samfunnsokonomene.no/tidsskrifter/samfunnsokonomen/.Økonomer går seg av og til vill i et mønster der markedssvikt søkes løst i en optimalisering av politiske virkemidler som forholdes til et kvantifiserbart mål. Et godt eksempel er artikkelen til Annegrete Bruvoll og Sana Hasane i Samfunnsøkonomen nr. 1 2010 («Hvorfor plastgjenvinning?»)

Faglig sneverhet

Artikkelen har tidligere vært utgitt i tidsskriftet "Samfunnsøkonomen". Laudal, T. (2010) Faglig sneverhet. Samfunnsøkonomen, 64(5), pp. 43. http://samfunnsokonomene.no/tidsskrifter/samfunnsokonomen/.Jeg har fått anledning til å gi et kort svar til innlegget fra Bruvoll og Hasane i forrige av Samfunnsøkonomen. Jeg begrenser meg til to tema: "Misforståelsen" om motsetningen mellom politikk og marked, og virkninger av offentlige tiltak på innovasjonsaktiviteten

Fordeler og ulemper med fritt valg av videregående skoler i Vest-Agder

Denne rapporten er resultatet av et utredningsprosjekt utført i april – mai 2003. Oppdragsgiver har vært Utdanningsavdelingen i Vest-Agder fylkeskommune. Oppdraget har vært å kartlegge synspunktene til elever og rektorer i Vest-Agder når det gjelder en eventuell overgang til fritt skolevalg. Det er også innhentet synspunkter på og erfaringer fra tre fylker der fritt skolevalg er vedtatt av fylkestinget. Prosjektet har også vurdert særtrekk ved skolesektoren i Vest-Agder som kan være av betydning for fritt skolevalg og hvordan fritt skolevalg kan fremme ulike formål