White-Collar and Corporate Crime

This chapter has one main objective: to present a succinct overview of key debates and ideas associated with theory, research, and practice in the area of white-collar and cor- porate crimes. First, we think about white-collar and corporate crimes in the twenty- first century, contextualizing these phenomena and reinforcing their criminological significance, despite their analysis remaining at the margins of mainstream discourse. Second, we revisit ongoing conceptual debates, identifying central analytical features of white-collar and corporate crimes before going on to argue that we ought to shift our attention towards understanding how white-collar crimes are organized and the conditions that shape this over time. Third, we look at ways of explaining the diverse range of ‘white-collar illegalities’, ranging from consideration of individual propensities and rationality, through organizational context and culture, to wider social conditions. Fourth, we analyse current policing and regulation strategies. We conclude with a dis- cussion of key themes in white-collar crime research and scholarship.