Level of Theft and the Size of the Public Sector - Some Empirical Evidence (From White-Collar and Economic Crime, P 139-149, 1982, Peter Wickman and Timothy Dailey, ed. - See NCJ-82224)

• NCJ Number: 82230
• Author(s): M K Block
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): 79-NI-AX-0071
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: Lexington Books
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A critical comment to this article follows in next chapter.

Annotation

The level of theft is examined in relation to the degree of direct collective control over resources in the economy and equality in the distribution of income.

Abstract

Data on larceny (any act of intentionally and unlawfully removing property belonging to another person) were obtained from the International Criminal Police Organization. Data on the size of the public sector (government expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product) were obtained from the United Nations Statistical Yearbook. In addition to the government expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product, other independent variables used to estimate the relationship between the size of the public sector and the larceny rate were the clearance rate for larceny and per capita income. The additional independent variable used in estimating the relationship between the extent of public ownership and the larceny rate was the percentage of the labor force employed in government-owned enterprises. Data on the distribution of income were obtained from 'Review of Income and Wealth' (1977). Overall, no evidence was found to support the contention that greater direct collective control over resources or a greater degree of equality in the income distribution produces lower property crime rates. In fact, a reasonable amount of evidence was found to the contrary. Further, the demand for law enforcement increases as the degree of equality in the income distribution increases. Possible explanations for the findings are offered. Tabular data, 14 references, and 20 notes are provided.