Reasons for commiting economic crimes: A South African study

Abstract

Purpose

The occurrence of economic crimes is a serious challenge to business leaders, government officials and private individuals in South Africa. The objective of this research was to determine the main reasons for committing economic crimes in South Africa.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Primary data from web-based and manual questionnaires were used to empirically analyse the perceptions of sentenced economic crime offenders and role-players in the prevention, detection, and prosecution of economic crime offences regarding the reasons for committing economic crimes in South Africa. The final realised sample included 345 respondents from the various populations of key role-players and 82 economic crime offenders from Gauteng-based correctional institutions. Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to test for significant differences between the views of roleplayers and economic crime offenders.

Findings

Most of both groups of respondents cited definite reasons for the commission of economic crimes in South Africa, although statistically significant differences existed in the degree of agreement. The challenge is therefore to address the occurrence of economic crimes.

Originality

This research paper is the original work of the author conducted as part of extended research related to an extended study on a financial and moral perspective of the impact of economic crime on taxation in South Africa.