In a global economy, this feedback mechanism breaks down. The means of communication become mass and its messages unverifiable. Those who know the truth of a given enterprise's practices either have too small a voice to be heard or have a stake in the offending company. The self-interest of a multinational corporation is no longer limited to "enlightened" self-interest simply by the fact of its non-localized being. Unrestrained self-interest inevitably leads to abuse and destruction of every quantity, value and population that finds itself in the path of "progress".

In the global economy, enlightened self-interest doesn't work. Structures must be redefined so that multinationals' most urgent priority is contributing to the common good of earth and its life systems.