Consumer Social Responsibility – The True Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has attracted global attention in an increasingly integrated world economy. Proponents of CSR believe that the corporation is obligated to promote social progress due to its dependence on society. CSR opponents argue that these demands are unwarranted and that the corporation’s sole obligation is to maximize shareholder wealth within legal and social norms. This paper argues that consumers via marketplace decisions in a competitive global economy are the ultimate determinant of CSR success and that Consumer Social Responsibility is a more accurate description of the realities of Corporate Social Responsibility.