What does the pyramid of corporate social responsibility suggest?

The pyramid of corporate social responsibility illustrates the different layers of responsibility that corporations have toward society. At its base, economic performance is highlighted as the foundational layer. This signifies that for a corporation to engage in responsibility beyond economic profit, it must first ensure financial viability. A business needs to be profitable to survive and to support its other responsibilities effectively, such as legal and ethical obligations, and philanthropic efforts.

The framework emphasizes that a corporation cannot fulfill its higher social responsibilities without first being economically stable. This establishes a hierarchy in which economic performance is essential since it supports the other, more advanced levels of corporate social responsibility. The subsequent layers—legal responsibilities, ethical responsibilities, and philanthropic responsibilities—build upon the economic foundation, illustrating how corporate success enables the company to contribute positively to society.