The Economics of Criminal Behavior

What is the relevance of combining the topic of criminal behavior with economic theory?

Combating crime is an ongoing public policy issue which impacts our behavior and our pocketbooks, while economic theory provides a set of analytical tools useful for discussing and solving some of the most pertinent issues of the day. The Economics of Criminal Behavior: A Survey of Selected Topics brings these two areas together by reviewing specific criminal activity as it relates to our market structure.

Criminal behavior in regards to capitalism and our macroeconomic conditions is discussed and analyzed, while behavioral topics such as airport profiling, illegal immigration, white-collar crime, and the illegal drug trade are chronicled and examined from an economic perspective. In addition to original content from the author, the book includes analyses by an array of prominent economists including Gary Becker, Mark Cohen, Isaac Ehrlich, and Steven Levitt.

The Economics of Criminal Behavior is appropriate for courses in economics, criminal justice, and other social policy studies.
Ron Liggett received his MBA with a concentration in economics from The University of Texas at Arlington. He is a lecturer in the Department of Economics at UT Arlington and has taught courses on the economics of crime, the economics of public policy, the principles of both macro- and microeconomics, money and banking, and the economics of social issues. His research interests include the economics of crime and the economics of social issues. In addition to his academic work, Professor Liggett is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas.