NCJ Number
3416
Date Published
1970
Length
124 pages
Annotation
AN EMPIRICAL MODEL TESTS THE POSSIBILITY THAT CRIMES MAY BE EXPLAINED BY ECONOMIC THEORY.
Abstract
WHILE MOST CRIMINOLOGY LITERATURE TREATS CRIME AS A SOCIOLOGICAL PHENOMENON, THIS STUDY SUGGESTS THAT CRIME MAY HAVE PRIMARILY ECONOMIC ORIGINS. THE ANALYSIS STARTS WITH THE HYPOTHESIS THAT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS RATIONAL IN THE ECONOMIC SENSE. A THEORETICAL MODEL IS DEVELOPED FROM THIS PROPOSITION, AND IS VERIFIED FOR THE CRIMES OF ROBBERY, BURGLARY, LARCENY, AND AUTO THEFT BY USING A SAMPLE FROM SMALL COMMUNITIES.