White-collar crime: Theoretical perspectives on motivation in the public and private sectors

This study provides a historical overview of white-collar crime and specifically examines how the organization of the public and private sector influences the motivation to commit white-collar crime. This research examines the white-collar crimes of fraud and embezzlement.;Private and public sector employees perceive some similar motivations for fraud and embezzlement. The research shows that private sector employees may view certain motivational causes of fraud and embezzlement due to the way that sector is organized. The organization of the private sector may promote certain perceived motivational causes of fraud and embezzlement. Public sector employees viewed certain motivations as being related to how they feel about their job and their employer. This research also provides a theoretical framework in order to try and explain why employees view certain motivations as causes of fraud and embezzlement.