Making things better: the Case of Corporate Social Responsibility versus Social Entrepreneurship

Abstract

This paper is concerned with varying market cracks and gaps, which have the potential to impact both environmental and social fields detrimentally. Instead of focusing on how international bodies and regulation could tackle such problems, this paper focuses on how business could decrease or repair the damages it causes. Thus, the potential of two recent fields: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social Entrepreneurship are investigated, addressing the extent to which they can tackle market cracks and gaps. To have a better understanding of what solutions they provide, as well as what problems they encounter, case study research is employed. The research demonstrates the clear positive impact created by such ventures, without underestimating the main debates surrounding those approaches. Yet as positive outcomes remain prevalent, the paper calls for a convergence between the two fields of CSR and Social Entrepreneurship, through the development of partnerships and other innovative initiatives