It has become quite clear that the major challenge facing our nation as the next century approaches is to ensure Australia's competitiveness in the world economy. To this end, gratuitous intervention in the affairs of business is to be avoided. At the same time, there must be some safeguards to ensure that the public interest is protected. Recent history is littered with examples of corporate failure, where great harm has been done to the economy as the result of unrestrained business activity which was not necessarily productive.
The entrepreneurial excesses of the 1980s cost Australia's commercial reputation dearly. Australian capital markets suffered accordingly. This Trends and Issues offers explanations for entrepreneurial crime and discusses current proposals for changes to the Corporations Law which are designed to prevent irresponsible conduct by directors without constraining the entrepreneurial spirit which is essential to Australia's economic viability.