Should the U.S. give the CSR Crown to Dubai?

Corporate social responsibility was on every company's lips in the United States back when the days were sunny and corporate offers were filled with money. Corporations were creating programs to give back to the environment and building plants that ran off wind and solar power.

When the economy tanked and everyone started losing money hand over foot, CSR was overthrown and it appears the United States may have to give its corporate social responsibility crown to the city of Dubai.  Dubai is one of the richest areas of the world and stars hobnob with billionaires in the pricey hotels, but the city wants its many United Arab Emirate companies to be stewards of the environment as well and has created a contest as an incentive.

The Sixth Cycle of the Annual Arabia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards is beginning and more than 70 companies are expected to compete with at least 15 already registering. The goal is to recognize the CSR initiatives of companies in several different categories: Small sized enterprises (1-99 employees), medium sized enterprises (100-499 employees) large sized enterprises (500 + employees), government authorities and departments, corporate-non-governmental organization and new business.

Dubai has long been a supporter of CSR both on a governmental and commercial level. The government and the private sector provides funds and support to the disadvantaged as well as many environmental programs.

While CSR is growing in Dubai, the amount of CSR done by American companies is on the decline. When companies think about CSR, they are looking at tax incentives and its use as a marketing tool. Who would you rather buy your toilet paper from: A company that saves puppies starving in Africa or the cold hearted corporation that’s polluting your water?

As the economy declined and the environment has taken a back seat, corporations in the United States are focusing on the bottom line again. Cities like Dubai will continue to dominate the CSR world as long as the United States economy is in a downturn.