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Business & Society will publish six issues per year (an increase from four issues per year) beginning with Volume 53: January, March, May, July, September, November.

Business & Society Online Table of Contents Alert

A new issue of Business & Society is available online:

January 2014; Vol. 53, No. 1

The below Table of Contents is available online at: http://bas.sagepub.com/content/vol53/issue1/?etoc

Editorial

Editorial Announcement, From the Editor

Duane Windsor

Business Society 2014; 3-5
http://bas.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/53/1/3

Articles

Eco-Labeling Strategies and Price-Premium: The Wine Industry Puzzle

Magali A. Delmas and Laura E. Grant

Business Society 2014; 6-44
http://bas.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/53/1/6

Although there is increasing use of eco-labeling, conditions under which eco-labels can command price premiums are not fully understood. In this article, we demonstrate that the certification of environmental practices by a third party should be analyzed as a strategy distinct from-although related to-the disclosure of the eco-certification through a label posted on the product. By assessing eco-labeling and eco-certification strategies separately, researchers can identify benefits associated with the certification process, such as improved reputation in the industry or increased product quality, independently from those associated with the actual label. In the context of the wine industry, we show that eco-certification leads to a price premium while the use of the eco-label does not.

Stakeholder Management and Nonparticipation in Controversial Business

Rosamaria C. Moura-Leite, Robert C. Padgett, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st2:sn w:st="on">José</st2:sn> <st2:sn w:st="on">I.</st2:sn></st1:place> Galán

Business Society 2014; 45-70
http://bas.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/53/1/45

The main objective of this research is to provide knowledge on the impact that nonparticipation in controversial business can have on corporate financial performance. Accordingly, the stakeholder theory perspective was adopted and the effect of nonparticipation in controversial business on corporate financial performance was tested by using market-based and accounting-based economic measures. In addition, the effect of primary stakeholders' management activities on corporate financial performance was tested, whereby it can be seen whether this nonparticipation in controversial business reveals a different causal relationship with certain aspects of economic performance.

Child Labor and Responsible Consumers: From Boycotts to Social Labels, Illustrated by the Indian Hand-Knotted Carpet Industry

Jérôme Ballet, Augendra Bhukuth, and Aurélie Carimentrand

Business Society 2014; 71-104
http://bas.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/53/1/71

The basic strategy for the fight against child labor has been boycotting efforts followed by labeling practices. This article reviews the development of these practices and their impact on the hand-knotted carpet industry in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The authors highlight the fact that though labeling has responded to many of the criticisms of boycotts, labeling too has shortcomings related to its trustworthiness in situations where information is highly asymmetrical among stakeholders. The labeling may lack credibility and, thus, arguably, has limited impact on the hand-knotted carpet industry. The article discusses why and how labeling may lack credibility. Since the article is a conceptual assessment and not an empirical study, it draws on other sources for relevant empirical information.

Differences Among NGOs in the Business–NGO Cooperative Network

Amy O'Connor and Michelle Shumate

Business Society 2014; 105-133
http://bas.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/53/1/105

Informed by the symbiotic sustainability model, this theory-building research compares a stratified subsample (N = 66) from 695 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that have relationships with U.S. Fortune 500 companies in 11 industries (N = 155). Using network analysis and centering resonance analysis, the research compares the "about us" statements of three groups of NGOs with different indegree centralities. The results of this study suggest that NGOs with multiple corporate partners are distinct from NGOs with single corporate partners. Across all levels of centrality, NGOs in cross-sector cooperative relationships tend to focus on children and be service oriented. In addition, federated NGOs were more likely to occupy a central position in the business–NGO cooperative network and foundations were more likely to have relationships with multiple corporations. Local NGOs were more likely to have only one cross-sector relationship and were, by a significant margin, the largest group. Propositions for future research are offered based on the findings.

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Duane Windsor, PhD

BAS Editor

Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Management

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jesse</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">H.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Jones</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Graduate</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place> of Business

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rice</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>

odw@rice.edu