IMPLEMENTATION OF CSR IN SMES EVIDENCE FROM SERBIA

Discussion and research in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) are mostly focused on large, multinational companies (MNCs) because they are considered to have advanced more in implementing CSR compared to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, large MNCs heavily depend on other companies (suppliers, intermediaries, vendors) in their business operations, many of which are SMEs. Since SMEs represent the majority of companies in both developed and developing countries, they have a substantial impact on local communities and the environment. The structure and characteristics of SMEs in developing countries are significantly different from those in developed countries, making it necessary to dedicate special attention to the specific traits and potential contributions of CSR implementation in SMEs. In response to these challenges, it is important to investigate the level of CSR implementation in SMEs. This paper aims to demonstrate the assessed level of CSR in SMEs compared to large companies in the context of a developing country, the Republic of Serbia. The results showed that there are statistically significant differences between SMEs and large companies in the assessment of CSR and external CSR, while there is not a statistically significant difference in the assessment of internal CSR. These findings can be used to develop support programs for SMEs to facilitate CSR implementation.