White-Collar Crime in Modern England

Abstract

In the period between the 1840s and the 1920s the British economy was transformed, from small-scale capitalism dominated by individual traders and partnerships to a complex financial structure dominated by large, joint-stock companies. The tremendous growth of big business created a world of new opportunities for criminal exploitation. The promotion and management of public companies and the trading of commercial securities proved vulnerable to the white-collar crimes of fraud and embezzlement. Problems of financial fraud were exacerbated by a climate of laissez-faire which championed the most permissive commercial legislation in the world, and white-collar crime wreaked havoc on the modern British economy. This new book examines the spread of white-collar crime from the Victorian period to the early twentieth century and offers a new perspective on modern scandals.

The State and Development in Africa

“…The origin of corruption is traced to the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century (Robb 1992). It was part of the white collar crime 7 Fonchingong: The State and Development in Africa produced by the financial growth that accompanied the industrial revolution.…”

“…It was part of the white collar crime 7 Fonchingong: The State and Development in Africa produced by the financial growth that accompanied the industrial revolution. According to Robb (1992), the industrial revolution gave rise to a complex economy characterised by an increasing dependence on finance and investment and, consequently, enormous banking networks, stocks and credit, and a complicated legal system. These factors, coupled with the increase in lawyers, financiers and other professionals, greatly aided the expansion and the potential for white collar crime.…”

Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa: Towards a more holistic approach

“…The industrial revolution of the nineteenth century appears to have been the very initial historical basis for emergence of corruption (Robb, 1992). The financial growth which accompanied this historical event is said to have been directly responsible for the birth of white collar crime of which corruption is a part.…”

“…The financial growth which accompanied this historical event is said to have been directly responsible for the birth of white collar crime of which corruption is a part. According to Robb (1992), the industrial revolution gave birth to a complex economy characterized by an increasing dependence on finance and investment and, consequently, enormous banking networks, stocks and credit and a complicated legal system. These factors, coupled with the increase in lawyers, financiers and other professionals, greatly aided the expansion and the potential for white collar crime.…”

“…First, as implicit in Robb's (1992) argument that the new economic order resulting from the industrial revolution was responsible for the initial emergence of white collar crime in general, corruption requires a well developed monetary economy characterized by a clear differentiation of interests to thrive. A closer look at pre-colonial African economies reveals that emerging colonial powers did not find sizeable monetary economies in their newly acquired territories Lesetedi, 1998, 1999).…”