Criminogenic Capitalism (Marxist)

Criminogenic Capitalism:

  • Marxists suggest that capitalism is responsible for much of the crime committed in society

  • Bonger (1916) suggested that by its very design, capitalism was criminogenic

  • Capitalism creates false needs whilst simultaneously denying people the means to achieve these

How?

  • Advertising promotes goods and services

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  • Capitalists keep wages low in order to maximise profit

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  • People turn to crime in order to meet these ‘false needs’

Chambliss (1976):

  • Crime is universal throughout the social-class system due to the individualistic and utilitarian nature of capitalism

  • Working-class criminals have limited means to commit crimes and gravitate towards violent acts and exploitation of weaker individuals

  • The ruling class has unlimited means and so can commit more subtle forms of crime- such as corporate crime

Gordon (1976):

  • Capitalism is a ‘dog eat dog’ society and competition-generated leads to criminal activities

  • Crime is a rational act in order to get ahead of others in competing positions

  • Particularly in the USA, with a reduced welfare safety net, This means working class commit crime to survive

Mankoff (1976):

  • Crime is higher in the USA than in European nations due to higher welfare spending

  • Citizens in Europe feel protected by the state and so do not need to commit crimes

  • Basic needs are met, such as healthcare, food, child support

Snider (1993):

  • Capitalism encourages corporate crimes through competition- firms will break the law to post higher profits

  • Street crimes cost less than corporate crimes, such as insider trading, money laundering and fraudulent accounting

  • In her research, street crime cost $4 billion, compared to the $325 billion bailout of banks

Evaluations:

  • Structural inequality caused by the capitalist system has been cited by many as a reason for crime- e.g. Merton, Left Realists

  • Doesn’t explain why working-class criminals do not target higher classes for criminal activity

  • Doesn’t explain why some working-class people do not turn to crime despite precarious financial situations