What defines 'corporate crime'?

Corporate crime is defined as criminal acts committed by individuals or companies, typically with the intent of achieving financial gain. This encompasses a wide range of illicit activities, including fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, and environmental violations that corporations may engage in to enhance profits or reduce costs at the expense of legal and ethical standards.

This definition is particularly significant in sociology because it highlights the systemic nature of such crimes, often revealing how corporate structures can facilitate illegal behavior. It also speaks to the broader implications of corporate crime on society, economy, and the environment, which may not always be visible or directly associated with traditional notions of crime.

The other options do not adequately capture the essence of corporate crime. While criminal acts by groups of individuals based on social ties (the first choice) might describe organized crime, it doesn’t specifically pertain to the corporate context. Crimes related to personal relationships (the third choice) focus on interpersonal issues rather than the systemic and financial motivations behind corporate misconduct. Additionally, criminal behavior during political protests (the fourth choice) revolves around civic engagement and uprising rather than corporate actions aimed at financial benefits.