The New Economics of the Business Case for Sustainability

30 Pages Posted: 16 Sep 2013

See all articles by Michele Pinelli

Michele Pinelli

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Management

Date Written: September 2013

Abstract

This paper joins the debate on business’ role in the implementation of sustainable development and argues that firms are beginning to run more sustainable practices as these are becoming increasingly profitable. It is also argued that such evolution of the economics of social environmental performance is the result of a three stage dynamics which involves consumer awareness, industrial policies, new cost structures and stakeholders’ pressure. Moreover, it is also considered that such a phenomenon implies that corporations can be of huge help to regulations in the implementation of sustainability. Finally, by running analyses of the relevant literature on the business case for sustainability, this paper reconciles the mixed and inconclusive results which the academic research on the economic rationale of sustainability has always produced.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, social impact, environment, sustainability

JEL Classification: M14, M21

Suggested Citation

Pinelli, Michele, The New Economics of the Business Case for Sustainability (September 2013). Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia Working Paper No. 14/2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2326200 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2326200

Michele Pinelli (Contact Author)

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice - Department of Management ( email )

San Giobbe, Cannaregio 873
Venice, 30121
Italy

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