The sharing economy model and the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) represent important phenomena in the world of business today. The aim of this article is to characterise the current state of knowledge of the context of the sharing economy and CSR, to identify research gaps and to suggest possible directions for future research in this area. Using a standalone literature review, an analysis was performed of studies published on this topic in publications indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. In view of the fact that this topic is not yet part of mainstream research, only 20 publications published between 2017 and 2021 were analysed. The analysis performed shows that the context of the sharing economy and the concept of CSR are being investigated by researchers both in a general context and from the perspective of sharing economy platforms. However, significant research gaps exist in the investigation of the context of these two phenomena, which could be filled by investigation in the areas specified in the article.
The importance of the sharing economy has been growing in recent years and it is now becoming an important segment of the global economy. Positive developments in this field are dependent on understanding the attitudes of the stakeholders in this business model. The aim of the article is to identify public attitudes towards selected general aspects of the sharing economy model using the Czech Republic as an example. Primary data were obtained via a questionnaire survey (N = 614) and processed using descriptive statistics tools.The study shows a relatively low level of familiarity among respondents with the concept of the sharing economy and the business model itself. However, the respondents do believe that the sharing economy model will replace traditional business models in the future. In the opinion of the respondents, neither a lack of ability and willingness to use information technology nor a lack of information hinder development of the sharing phenomenon.Respondents also do not believe that sharing is the preserve of young people.
Communication of socially responsible activities by companies is a fundamental condition allowing companies to share the benefits of their social responsibility. The need for effective communication of socially responsible activities which are performed exhibits itself in a particularly significant manner in the case of companies in controversial industries, such as companies in the chemical industry. The aim of the article is to analyze and evaluate the scope and structure of CSR activities communicated by chemical companies operating in Norway. Primary data was obtained on the basis of content analysis of the websites of the TOP 100 chemical companies operating in Norway. This was processed using tools for descriptive statistics. The study which was performed shows that the scope of communication by the monitored chemical companies operating in Norway is low (43% of the monitored activities are communicated). Activities in the field of environmental responsibility are communicated to the greatest extent, followed by activities in the field of economic responsibility. Comparison of the scope in which individual socially responsible activities are communicated is evident from the findings presented, including international comparison.
The sharing of idle assets, on which the sharing economy model is based, is associated with positive economic, environmental, and social effects, the creation of which is the basis of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It would therefore seem expedient to examine the context of these phenomena, which have recently been gaining in importance, although they still remain outside mainstream research. So far, there is no study which comprehensively characterises the current state of knowledge of the context of the sharing economy and CSR, identifies research gaps, and postulates directions for future research in this area. This article addresses this gap by utilising a standalone literature review approach. An analysis of 20 publications, published on this topic in 2017–2021 in journals registered in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, was carried out. Four main research clusters were identified, these being (1) The sharing economy as a tool of the CSR concept; (2) The joint contribution of the sharing economy model and the concept of CSR towards reduction of overconsumption and wastage; (3) The importance of CSR communication for sharing economy platforms; and (4) The antagonistic relationship between the sharing economy model and the concept of CSR. The performed analysis shows the fragmented nature of existing research, but also the progressive nature of this area of research. At the same time, useful avenues for future research are postulated. This should focus on multiple lines of inquiry, including the possibility of incorporating different forms of B2B sharing into the concept of CSR, assessing the benefits, limitations, and risks of linking these two concepts, as well as exploring the synergies between the sharing economy model and the concept of CSR from the point of view of different industries, sharing segments, or regions.
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