White-Collar and Corporate Crime

Criminological theory and research are often preoccupied with ‘crimes on the streets’, i.e., volume crimes such as theft, interpersonal violence, illicit drugs, criminal gangs, anti-social behaviour etc, rather than ‘crimes in the suites’, i.e., corporate frauds, bribery and corruption, price-fixing, tax evasion etc. Yet the behaviours of those in elite political and economic positions, such as bankers, MPs, and corporations and their executives, among others, have the potential to significantly harm and undermine both society and individuals. There are a range of crimes and harms related to the financial system, commerce, health and safety, consumer experiences, as well as the environment, that are relatively understudied and researched within criminology. This unit, drawing upon perspectives especially from criminology, addresses this gap and will be attractive to students from across the School.

White-collar and corporate crimes represent a diverse array of activities – including financial crime, crimes against workers, crimes against consumers, and environmental crime. For example, the leaking of the FinCEN Files and Pandora Papers have exposed how deviant behaviour and misconduct by leading financial institutions and elite actors have adversely affected national economies and individual livelihoods throughout the world. In addition, the recent FIFA World Cup 2022 held in Qatar has been heavily criticised for the poor safety conditions of migrant workers developing key infrastructure, not to mention allegations of bribery and corruption to facilitate the award of the tournament to the region. A key question that emerges from such cases is whether corporations and organisations, or the individuals acting on their behalf, have done anything wrong? In many cases companies comply with all legal requirements, but nonetheless attract stringent criticism of their ‘ethical’ behaviours.

This unit provides analysis of such white-collar and corporate crimes and deviance. Such acts (or omissions) often occur within the context of international commerce and business, and may be facilitated at the transnational level through the use of offshore financial centres and ‘shell’ firms or third parties in other jurisdictions. This unit will therefore critically examine the nature and organisation of these crimes (e.g., the processes and practices necessary to carry them out), the key social actors involved (e.g., who are the ‘criminals’, why do they do it, and who is being victimised?), and the mixture of responses to such crimes (e.g., enforcement, self-regulation, prevention/reduction, disruption/intervention) at the local, national, and transnational levels. To explore these issues, the unit will examine a number of relevant in-depth case studies such as corporate corruption and bribery, tax avoidance/evasion, and modern slavery.

• Equip students with an understanding of the nature and impact of white-collar and corporate crime, including how such offences are committed, concealed, and responded to;
• Examine the theoretical foundations of white-collar and corporate crime, exploring their historical evolution and the development of criminal justice responses at both national and international levels;
• Explore critical debates on how various forms of corporate and professional misconduct are defined, perceived, and treated, particularly in relation to legal, moral, and social boundaries of criminality;
• Analyse contemporary case studies to illustrate patterns, challenges, and responses to white-collar and corporate wrongdoing in practice;
• Encourage critical reflection on regulatory frameworks and the tensions between promoting ethical organisational conduct and enabling economic or professional activity;
   

Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly whole-class lecture; (3) a workshop; and (4) one-to-one support via subject specific office hours.

• Examine key principles within the criminal justice process as they relate to white-collar and corporate crimes.

• Apply criminological theory to white-collar and corporate crimes of a financial, social, and environmental nature.
• Assess the purposes and functions of criminal and regulatory law in dealing with white-collar and corporate crimes.
   

• Analyse overlapping criminological and business-related challenges.

• Use a range of information and academic/policy sources to construct an argument.
• Identify competing arguments on complex subject areas.
   

Summative (100%): 3,000-word essay

Students choose one form/type of white-collar or corporate crime (not one of the analysed case studies) and provide a critical analysis of:

• Its nature and organisation,
• Who the offenders are and why they might commit such crimes,
• How it is (or could be) regulated and controlled by any means, e.g., criminal, administrative, or other law, and/or other social and business mechanisms.

In the essay students must draw upon evidence from theory, policy, and practice using both academic and official materials to substantiate their arguments.

Formative: 500-word non-assessed essay

• Students will have the opportunity to complete a 500-word non-assessed essay plan on their proposed essay topic, which should be based on one form/type of white-collar or corporate crime.

Online links will be provided to all resources for both lectures and tutorials.

The following texts provide excellent introductions to key issues around white-collar and corporate crime or demonstrate key issues through relevant case studies:

• Benson, M. and Simpson, S. (2024) White-Collar Crimes: An Opportunity Perspective, 4th Ed., London: Routledge.
• Gobert, J. and Punch, M. (2003) Rethinking corporate crime, Cambridge: CUP.
• Lord, N. and Levi, M. (2023) Organising White-Collar and Corporate Crimes, London: Routledge.
• Lord, N., Inzelt, E., Huisman, W and Faria, R. (2022) European White-Collar Crime: Exploring the Nature of European Realities, Bristol: BUP.
• Slapper, G. and Tombs, S. (1999) Corporate Crime, London: Pearson Longman.
• Sutherland, E. (1983) White Collar Crime, New Haven: Yale University Press.
• van Erp, J., Huisman, W., Vande Walle, G. (eds.) (2015) The Routledge Handbook of White-Collar and Corporate Crime in Europe. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Restricted to: available to all Year 3 students university wide

Pre-requisites: none

Co-requisites: none