NCJ Number
60434
Journal
REVIEW OF BLACK POLITICAL ECONOMY Volume: 9 Dated: (FALL 1978) Pages: 43-59
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER EXPLORES THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF PARTICIPATION IN ILLEGITIMATE ACTIVITIES IN URBAN GHETTO AREAS.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE ROLE THAT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PLAY IN AFFECTING PARTICIPATION IN CRIME IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY MANY, DURING THE PAST DECADE DETERRENCE HAS BEEN THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF ECONOMISTS STUDYING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE PAPER SURVEYS HOW ECONOMISTS HAVE APPROACHED THE ANALYSIS OF CRIMINALITY AND FINDS TWO MAJOR THEMES IN THE ASSUMED RATIONALES OF PROFIT-MOTIVATED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND THE DETERMINING EFFECT THE STRUCTURE OF THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES HAS ON POTENTIAL OFFENDERS. THESE APPARENT OPPOSING ECONOMIC APPROACHES ARE SYNTHESIZED TO MODEL THE RELATIONSHIP OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND SO-CALLED RATIONAL CRIMINAL DECISIONS. THE INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IN WHICH LABOR MARKET AND FOR-PROFIT CRIMINAL DECISIONS ARE MADE WITHIN THE URBAN GHETTO IS DISCUSSED. IT IS PREMATURE TO CONCLUDE THAT AN UNAMBIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CRIME EXISTS. THE FOCUS OF THE ECONOMICS OF CRIME IN THE URBAN GHETTO IS CENTERED UPON LABOR MARKETS, BUT THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF CRIME ON MINORITY OR GHETTO COMMUNITIES TRANSCEND THESE PARTICULAR MARKETS. A MACROECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CRIME IN GHETTOS WOULD REVEAL THE INTERACTION OF PARTICIPATION IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS OF BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL GOODS. IN ADDITION, THE GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN VARIABLES, EVEN IN THE SPECIFIC LABOR/BLACK MARKETS, HAS BEEN IGNORED. THE OMISSION OF DISCUSSIONS OF MACROECONOMIC AND GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM INTERACTIONS OF CRIME IN URBAN GHETTOS SIGNIFIES A DIRE RESEARCH NEED. NOTES ARE APPENDED. (MJW)