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Downsizing of America: A Neglected Dimension of the White Collar Crime Problem

NCJ Number
172123
Journal
Crime, Law and Social Change Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: (1996-97) Pages: 351-366
Author(s)
D O Friedrichs
Date Published
1997
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Corporate downsizing is examined in terms of its implications for white-collar crime, with emphasis on whether downsizing can be defined as a crime against stakeholders for the benefit of shareholders, whether it is an alternative or an adjunct to the commission of criminal acts by corporations to maximize profit and minimize loss, and other issues.
Abstract
The discussion also focuses on whether the prospect of downsizing is likely to inspire greater or lesser willingness among corporate middle managers to engage in illegal acts on behalf of the corporation. A further issue is whether motivations and opportunities to commit crime against corporate employers are intensified or diminished as a consequence of the prospect of downsizing. An additional issue is whether downsizing promotes higher levels of white-collar crime among middle managers who are compelled to accept jobs that pay much less than positions lost due to downsizing. Finally, the discussion considers whether downsizing and the prospect of it contribute to a broader social and cultural environment conducive to more white-collar crime. It also emphasizes the difficulty of conducting a truly valid empirical study of the impact of downsizing on white-collar crime, although a qualitative approach based on interviews in companies affected and unaffected by downsizing might be useful. 54 reference notes (Author abstract modified)

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