Good intentions or good strategy? MNEs’ contributions to sustainable development in developing countries

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) exert an extensive impact in their operations both globally and locally, making their contributions to sustainable development crucial, specifically in developing countries (economies neither developed nor in transition). In this chapter, we review literature to delineate drivers for MNEs' engagement in sustainable development in developing-country settings. In addition, we outline the specific necessities for sustainable development in the form of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), considering least-developed countries as well as some effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and illustrate our findings by means of two case studies. Finally, we develop implications for research, managerial practice, and policy-makers. Overall, we suggest that while MNEs might have good intentions, they do not necessarily contribute to the kind of advancement required in developing-country contexts. In this light, the SDG framework may serve MNEs as well as policy-makers as orientation to fill important gaps.