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Bromberg, David E.

MPA Program

2006

M.P.A.

Over the past two decades there has been a steady increase in utilizing non-traditional "public action tools" to achieve policy goals. With the intent on maximizing the effectiveness of the utilization of these tools there has been a proliferation of literature surrounding this topic. Simultaneously, "corporate social responsibility" (CSR) has been a growing trend throughout the private sector. CSR, which was originally conceived as voluntary measures taken by business to promote the public good, has grown in definition and scope. Recently, there have been calls to increase government's role in achieving CSR. It is asserted in this thesis that government, by utilizing market specific tools, can and in many cases already does play a beneficial role in supporting businesses attain CSR. In seeking to develop a framework which depicts the complimentary relationship of government and CSR it is important to assemble government tools currently in use by local, state and federal governments that seek to support CSR. The focus of this thesis will be an exploration of available government tools (Salamon, 2002) that are being used to promote CSR. The increase in collaborative efforts among private and public sector actors has provided an opening for the public sector to utilize non-traditional tools to achieve public goals. The main question this thesis explores is: How does government (federal, state, local) mandate, facilitate, partner and endorse corporations to promote corporate social responsibility?