Transnational white‐collar crime and risk

Abstract

Research Summary Business transactions have increasingly been crossing national borders, thereby presenting greater opportunities for white‐collar crime and for the externalization of risk. The global economic crisis, resulting in part from the subprime mortgage scandal, is a prime example of this potential. To develop theoretical perspectives and practical interventions to prevent and respond to the global financial crisis, we consider similar issues of risk and white‐collar crime associated with global transactions in electronic waste (E‐waste). Policy Implications Smart (or responsive) regulation is a promising approach for addressing both E‐waste and the current economic crisis. This response includes crime prevention, third‐party‐ and self‐regulation, and the threat of strong state intervention. Future research should explore the extent to which smart regulation reduces specific forms of white‐collar crime and risk, as well as whether these interventions generalize to other transnational problems.