Towards an Expanded Concept of the Firm

Some Institutional Elements for the Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract

This article proposes an expanded vision of the concept of the firm based on institutional elements that help understand corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a constitutive part of organizational structure and culture. It discusses how the modern firm has evolved beyond the neoclassical economic model, emphasizing the relevance of social, cultural, and historical factors. The author draws on diverse theoretical approaches—from evolutionary economics to new sociological institutionalism—to argue that the firm is a historically situated social construct influenced by knowledge, cooperation, and social networks. Based on this analysis, the article outlines a research agenda with concrete proposals regarding the relationship between social responsibility and organizational performance.