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The following are the major areas of social responsibility of businesses.
(a) Economic responsibility: Business enterprises are economic units that exist to make profits. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every business enterprise to undertake economic activities such as producing goods and services according to the needs and wants of consumers and selling them at reasonable prices.
(b) Legal responsibility: It is the responsibility of every business to respect the laws and regulations of the country in which it operates, as laws are formed for the betterment of society.
(c) Ethical responsibility: This responsibility implies that a business enterprise should follow only those business practices that are in line with the social values that are desirable from the viewpoint of society. This includes respecting religious sentiments and producing quality products.
(d) Discretionary responsibility: This responsibility is completely voluntary in nature. It means that a business enterprise may choose to open a charitable school or hospital for the poor, grant aid to people affected by natural calamities, provide employment opportunities to the physically challenged and so on.