The Rationalistic Opportunity Perspective on Criminal Behavior

Abstract

Most schools of crtminological theory do not depict persistent in volvement in property crime as rational economic activity similar to other more conventional income-producing endeavors. Yet, the no tion of earning one's living by illicit means frequently appears in the criminological literature, notably in discussions of "professional crim inality." This paper presents a synthesis of ideas drawn from crimi nological theory, economics, and the sociology of occupations in an attempt to generate an alternative explanation of crime as work; this alternative view is termed the "rationalistic opportunity perspective."