Institutional reforms associated with neoliberalism and 'good governance' have altered the roles and responsibilities of states and transnational corporations (TNCs) in relation to social development. Increasingly such firms are engaging more directly in social service provisioning through privatisation, claiming to be more responsive to the concerns of multiple 'stakeholders' through 'corporate social responsibility' (CSR), positioning themselves as 'partners' in poverty reduction, and becoming more proactive in standard setting and 'privatised governance'. Given the extent of anecdotal or piecemeal 'evidence' regarding the impacts of CSR, attention has turned in recent years to developing frameworks that identify a range of policies, practices and effects that need to be examined to adequately assess social and developmental aspects. This paper attempts to contribute to this discussion by focusing on the contribution of CSR to equality and equity, understood here in terms of minimising deprivation; enhancing equality of opportunity; correcting gross imbalances in the distribution of income, wealth and power; and social justice. While the primary responsibility for promoting equality belongs to state and multilateral institutions, the CSR agenda, with is emphasis on such aspects as improvements in working conditions, community support, labour and human rights, and stakeholder participation, clearly has implications for equality and equity. Four central components of equality are considered: social protection, rights, empowerment and redistribution. It is argued that the contribution of CSR in relation to these different elements varies considerably. Most CSR initiatives focus on social ( and environmental) protection. Belatedly CSR discourse has embraced issues of labour and other human rights but CSR practice associated with the realisation of rights lags well behind. Other dimensions of equality related to empowerment and redistribution remain relatively marginal in the CSR agenda.
