THE INFLUENCE OF BUSINESSMEN PERVADES EVERY ASPECT OF SOCIETY, BUT THEIR POPULAR IMAGE CONTAINS AN UNETHICAL SIDE. THE ARTICLE TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERM 'WHITE-COLLAR CRIME' FROM BUSINESS CRIMES COMMITTED BY HIGHER CLASS PERSONS TO THE POINT WHERE IT ENCOMPASSES INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND CONSUMER FRAUD. BUSINESS CRIMES GENERALLY HAVE A HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND COMPLEX NATURE, AND THE VICTIM MAY NOT BE READILY IDENTIFIED. THEY CAN BE COMMITTED BY PERSONS FROM ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY WHO EXPLOIT A POSITION OF TRUST FOR PERSONAL GAIN. SUCH OFFENSES FALL INTO TWO BROAD CATEGORIES, MISREPRESENTATION AND DUPLICITY. COMMERCIAL CRIMES ARE ITEMIZED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES; PERSONS OPERATING ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THE COURSE OF OCCUPATION, CRIMES INCIDENTIAL TO AND IN FURTHERANCE OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, AND CRIMES WHICH ARE THE CENTRAL ACTIVITY OF A BUSINESS. FINANCIAL NEED IS ONE CAUSE OF COMMERCIAL CRIME, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCES DURING AN INDIVIDUAL'S FORMATIVE YEARS ARE ALSO DETERMINING FACTORS. BUSINESSMEN SHOULD DEVISE CODES OF ETHICAL PRACTICES TO IMPROVE THEIR PUBLIC IMAGE AND IDENTIFY PARAMETERS FOR ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR THAT COULD INHIBIT WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES. THE ARTICLE OFFERS THREE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING BUSINESS PRACTICES: INCLUSION OF A PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE ON CORPORATE BOARDS, USE OF CONSULTANTS ON ETHICAL MATTERS, AND A SOCIAL AUDIT TO EVALUATE IF A COMPANY IS FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. OTHER SOCIAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CORPORATE REPORTS, AND INCREASED PARTICIPATION BY SHAREHOLDERS AND EMPLOYEES IN CORPORATE AFFAIRS CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING COMMERCIAL CRIME THAN LEGISLATION. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MJM)