LEGAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF DEVELOPING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN BUSINESSES

It is noted in the article that there had been changes throughout the world in relations among the state, civil institutions and private companies lately, which evoked the emergence of new forms of social interaction. One of such forms is based exclusively on a voluntarily created system of relationships – corporate (social) responsibility (CSR). Approaches to understanding the concept of the CSR are explored in the article. Four elements of the global CSR pyramid are identified and described. The norms of legislative regulation of the CSR in the Russian Federation (RF) are described. The reasons behind the leadership of the companies from the oil and gas industry of the RF in the implementation of the CSR policy are identified. The structure of social investment of Russian oil and gas companies and Western companies, the main activities of oil and gas companies of the RF and Western companies in the CSR, and the volume of investments are presented. In conclusion, the main barriers to the global CSR policy development are identified, and proposals for their elimination are provided