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Economic Environment

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Summary

The world's biggest miner BHP Billiton (BHP) is cutting jobs at its coal mines after closing a loss-making mine thoroughly in Queensland early this year (Stewart 2012). BHP's job cuts is accompanied by other global mining companies such as Rio Tinto to confront a retrogressive market with falling industrial commodity prices and increasing costs. The future of Australia's mining boom which is largely dependent on Chinese demand for commodities driven by its economic growth is of particular concern (Stewart 2012).

Application of Concepts

Both economic environment and the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be demonstrated in this article. In particular, the nature of BHP's mining business, which is regarded as a significant contributor to Australian economy (Maddock and McLean 1987) determines its need to pay close attention to the opportunities and threats posed by the global economic environment (Blainey 2003). For example, slowdown in China's economic growth and recent European economic recession have impact on Australia's resource exports (Stevens 2012). The Australian mining industry which has once benefited from the surge in demand driven by the rapid growth of emerging economies in Asia since 2003 and the shortage of global supply (Stevens 2012) is now facing a difficult period signaled by the drop of China's GDP growth from 10 per cent to a mere 8 per cent (Connolly and Orsmond 2011). China's demand for resources has declined as a result of its slowdown in industrialisation and urbanisation, causing a significant decrease in global steel prices and thus a huge downward influence on BHP's profits (Stevens 2012).

CSR raises issue on BHP's reputation by job cuts to sustain profitability. It is conflicting to BHP's attempts to put sustainability a first priority including reducing personnel exposure in underground mining and helping communities to generate livelihoods (BHP 2012).

Analysis

BHP's decision of job cuts is under major criticism for pursuing its own profit at the expense of employees (Stewart 2012). BHP has an obligation to society to protect employment rates and take into account the social impact (Carroll and Shabana 2010).

However, it could be argued that the employment increase in mining which rose from 1 per cent of total employment in 2000 to 1.7 percent by the end of 2010 (Stevens 2012) is hard to keep up with given the current economic environment. Furthermore, it is inevitable to certain extent of structural unemployment as the industry pursues a higher level of labour productivity (Melanie et al 2002).

Nevertheless, the prospect of sustained growth of China (Holloway, Roberts and Rush 2010) as its GDP being projected to be equal to United States in Purchasing Power Parity terms for the next decade (Stevens 2012) and the rising considerable scope for demand from India as it experiences the phase of steel-intensive growth (Caglrarini and Baker 2010) all indicate a favorable market in the future and put BHP in a negative spotlight in regards of retaining the talented workforce. Moreover, the severe impact on reputation reinforcing public criticism over its motive of tax benefit resulted from social and environmental disclosures in reporting (Tilt and Symes 2002) is detrimental since it is regarded as an intangible resource leading to sustainable competitive advantage (Barney 1991). Hence BHP should take extra care about its action on CSR in response of the dynamic economic environment.

Reference List

Barney, J. 1991, 'Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage', Journal of Management, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 99-120.

BHP Billiton, 2012, BHP Sustainability in action, Sydney, viewed 19 August 2012,

Blainey, G. 2003, The rush that never ended: a history of Australian mining, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.

Cagliarini, A. and Baker, M. 2010, 'Economic change in India', RBA Bulletin, vol. 9, pp. 19-24.

Carroll, A. B. and Shabana, K. M. 2010, 'The business case for corporate social responsibility: a review of concepts, research and practice', International Journal of Management Reviews, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 85-105.
Connolly, E. and Orsmond, D. 2011, The mining industry: from bust to boom, Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney, viewed 19 August 2012,

Holloway, J., Robers, I. And Rush, A. 2010, 'China's steel industry', RBA Bulletin, vol. 12, pp. 19-25.

Maddock, R. and McLean, I. 1987, The Australian economy in the long run, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne.

Melanie, J., Curtotti, R., Saunders, M., Schneider, K., and Qiang, Y. 2002, Global coal market: prospect to 2010, Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics, Canberra

Stevens, G. 2012, Economic conditions and prospects, Reserve Bank of Australia, Sydney, viewed 19 August 2012,

Stewart, R. 2012, 'BHP cutting Brisbane coal jobs, source says', Australian, 10 August, viewed 19 August 2012,

Tilt, C. and Symes, C. 2002, 'Environmental disclosure by Australian mining companies: environmental conscience or commercial reality?', Accounting Forum, vol. 23, no.2, pp. 137-154.

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