The Company Citizen concludes that key issues require the active participation - and leadership - of business. Drawing attention to the businesses that are taking the lead and those who are holding us back, the author concludes that only by involving business can we tackle the great issues of the day and survive, as communities, nation and planet.
"The challenges of our modern world, and the need for an effective new social contract are well documented. In this timely and interesting book, Tom Levitt brings practical knowledge, and credible policy solutions to the question of business, and make a compelling case about the potential of business to help us all change the world, and our economy, for the better. What is more he articulates a clear duty for business to play its full role as corporate citizen - a hugely important and resonant message for our times." Julia Unwin, Chair, Independent Inquiry into the Future of the Civil Society.
"With £275b of fines from misconduct being paid by the banks so far since the financial crisis and trust in business generally having fallen sharply, Tom Levitt argues that it is high time that firms start thinking of themselves as 'company citizens' with a duty to contribute to the well-being of the wider economy. This means assuming responsibility for the environment in which they operate, avoiding excessive pay for senior executives, treating their employees and customers with fairness and dignity and paying appropriate amounts of tax while not being scared to take a stance against injustice. The win is an improvement in business reputation and longer term business sustainability. It really is as simple as that. But as this book demonstrates it requires a new mindset for it to work." - Vicky Pryce, founder of GoodCorporation and former UK government economic adviser.
"In his latest book Tom Levitt weaves together a tapestry from a variety of sources and analysis of global trends to argue for company citizenship, a concept which reachesbeyond company social responsibility and corporate philanthropy. This concept offers an exciting potential to resolve some of the long standing criticisms of capitalism and provides a new paradigm for business to engage positively with society." Professor Alex Murdock, London South Bank University.
"A compelling account of how - and why - business has to be at the centre of addressing today's most urgent and far-reaching issues.A book, and a theme, whose time has come. Never has the case for business to step up and help solve society's challenges been greater. And rarely has it been better put than in this excellent account". - Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever
