Decoding White-Collar Crime: A Data-Driven Analysis

Abstract

White-collar crime constitutes an escalating socio-economic challenge both globally and within the context of Pakistan. Characterized by non-violent transgressions perpetrated by individuals occupying positions of authority and trust, these offenses remain largely underreported and insufficiently addressed due to systemic limitations in detection and enforcement. While traditional street crimes have exhibited a decline, white-collar offenses continue to rise, inflicting disproportionately greater financial and institutional harm. This study undertakes a multidimensional analysis of the etiology of white-collar crime, drawing upon criminological and socio-psychological paradigms, particularly interactionist theories. However, recognizing the explanatory limitations of these models, the paper integrates a structural framework, emphasizing the enabling roles of industrial capitalism, economic stratification, and institutional asymmetries. The findings underscore the inadequacy of extant legal instruments and regulatory mechanisms in effectively mitigating such offenses. The study concludes by advocating for comprehensive, interdisciplinary countermeasures, encompassing legal reform, institutional accountability, and systemic restructuring to address the root causes and consequences of white-collar crime.

Keywords: White-Collar Crime, Edwin Sutherland, Financial Fraud, Cybercrime, Insider Trading, Regulatory Frameworks