Economic Distress, Labor Markets, and White-Collar Crime

• In Event: Criminological Perspectives on White-Collar Crime

Abstract

Criminological theory often points to the power of economic distress in its ability to produce delinquent behavior. More often than not, studies that test this notion seek to validate these predictions through the study of violent and property crime. What remains unknown, however, is the response in white-collar crime during periods of economic stress. In this study, I conduct a national-level analysis of white-collar crime and economic stress using data from the National Incident Based Reporting System. In addition, I also control for a number of indicators that account for labor market conditions and population structure. The results from this study may contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the patterns of white-collar crime as it relates to external structural factors.

Author

• Zachary Austin Powell, University of Texas at Dallas