The Meaning of Shared Value

Book excerpt: The concept of Creating Shared Value (CSV) – creating 'economic' value in a way that also creates value for the whole of society – has risen in prominence as a corporate policy and a strategy in recent years, mainly for third sector or development organisations. However, while it has received considerable interest among business leaders and practitioners, it has also sparked a bitter debate among academics, proponents and sceptics of the idea. Starting from this argument, the book develops a meta-critical examination of the hidden presuppositions of both supporters and critics of Creating Shared Value, particular in relation to the concept of value. It is argued that there are not two separate types of value, i.e. an economic value and a social value, but only a unique one: which essentially means the creation of well-being. If anything, the distinction that is drawn relates to the value capture (how the value created is distributed among different staekholders) and not to value creation (additions to potential well-being) since the notion of value itself is univocal. Behind the debate are two implicit opposed viewpoints on the philosophy of history: an antagonistic (pessimistic) and a cooperative (optimistic) view. The authors are thus led to a discussion of which of the two visions appears to be the most rational in today's world. The book is addressed to readers with an interest in the core concept of value, primarily in economics, strategic management, and philosophy.