Multinational corporations and poverty alleviation in Lao PDR and Thailand

This paper explores the contribution in poverty alleviation from multi-national corporations (MNCs) in two South East Asian countries, Laos and Thailand, in the form of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The key focus is given to the nature and types of CSR activities from MNCs in an effort to fight poverty in the host countries.. The researchers collected data from 3 MNCs in Laos and Thailand. The results identify three key themes: (1) economic contribution and poverty alleviation, (2) social development and poverty alleviation, and (3) human rights and poverty alleviation. This study proposes a theoretical framework and ways in which MNCs can politically and ethically engage with various social institutions in Laos and Thailand in order to achieve sustainable poverty alleviation.