Investigating international bribery and the applicability of routine activity theory : a literary review

Abstract

In today's globalised world, the expansion of white-collar crime is the single most significant impediment to worldwide economic development and growth (Gray and Kauffmann 1998), with the most expensive and common form being bribery. However, despite the growing body of literature on white collar crime there is a dearth in literature examining bribery from a transnational perspective. This paper explores the literature surrounding the under-researched phenomenon of international bribery. In doing so it identifies significant gaps in the literature, in particular the effectiveness of policy approaches, the prevalence of international bribery, the occurrence of private-to-private sector international bribery and a clear understanding of how this form of white collar crime can effectively be detected, investigated and prevented. Considering the definitions, impacts on society, the policy approaches and difficulties in controlling white collar crime, and international bribery more specifically, this paper contributes valuable information to the international bribery discourse. In particular, by reviewing the literature on routine activity theory and its applicability to this type of crime, it confirms the suspected suitability of opportunity-focused theories being appropriate tools in explaining white-collar crime.