Development through business: Illusion or reality? Maximising development impact through home-country firms

Abstract

The underlying issue discussed in this paper is the validity of the `win-win´ idea, asking the fundamental question: can business really make a difference for development? Can home-country firms play a decisive role in that development? And how can this development be guided by donor country policies and programs so that development impact and in particular poverty reduction is augmented? These are important questions as expectations towards home-country company´s positive contributions to host-country economic and social development are rising, as well as donor financial support.