Corporate social responsibility: assessment methods and the regional dimension

In order to implement all the delegated powers amid lack of economic and financial opportunities, it is necessary for the authorities to search for additional sources of development. One of the key economic actors is represented by business structures which possess a significant amount of financial, investment, labor and other resources. In this regard, it is relevant to develop mutually beneficial cooperation of authorities and business entities. An efficient form of such cooperation, as evidenced by world experience, is social responsibility. However, this practice is not widespread in Russia; Russian research do not pay enough attention to specific tools contributing to enhancing the role of businesses in addressing social and economic issues of territories. The present paper identifies current approaches to the understanding of social responsibility of business and presents the author's interpretation of this economic category. Based on the developed methodological tools, the author makes an appraisal of social responsibility of major chemical enterprises of the Northwestern Federal district...