ABSTRACT
Many of Britain's best-known companies are already redefining the traditional roles of the corporation. The emergence of non-governmental organisations acting as civil regulators of corporations through public campaigning and other forms of pressure is one of the notable features. Economic globalisation offers profitable pathways for businesses to behave unethically, to drive down labour standards, to minimise their tax contributions, and to exert undue influence over governments anxious to attract their investments. The global economy at the turn of the millennium was driven by annual expenditure on consumption of almost US$30 trillion. Effective civil navigation lies at the heart of making the most out of the opportunities afforded by the New Economy of corporate citizenship for enhancing social and environmental benefits and minimising associated costs. Corporate codes of conduct created through and overseen by multi-sector partnerships are an early manifestation of the developments of management and accountability tools.
