Investment agreements and Corporate Social Responsibility

Contradictions, Incentives and Policy Options

Current BITs assume that all investments are beneficial for development and that foreign investment will be attracted by agreements that guarantee the protection of foreign investors. Such protection measures include the guarantee that governments refrain from taking measures that limit profit making. The impact of foreign investors on societies, workers, consumers, the environment and other CSR-related issues is not adequately covered by the agreements. The responsibility for monitoring and improving corporate behaviour has so far remained in the arena of voluntary initiatives. read more less