Analyzing Rational Crime Models and Methods

Olof Dahlbäck's book breaks new ground for the analysis of crime from a rationality perspective by presenting models and methods that go far beyond those with which researchers have hitherto been equipped. The book examines single crimes, individual criminality, and societal crime, and it discusses thoroughly the general decision theoretical presuppositions necessary for analyzing these various types of crime. An expected utility maximization model for a single discrete choice regarding the commission of a crime is the foundation of most of the analyses presented. A version of this model is developed that permits interpersonal comparisons, and this basic model is used when deriving more complex models of crime as well as when analyzing the potential for such derivations. The rigorous, powerful methods suggested provide considerable opportunities for improving research and for seeing old problems in a new light.

Contenu

1. The Assumption of Rationality.- 2. Rational Decisions under Conditions of Risk.- 3. Descriptive Validity of the Rationality Theories of Expected Utility Maximization.- 4. Interpersonal Comparison of Utility.- 5. Previous Research.- 6. Research Strategies.- 7. Analyzing the Bivariate Linear Relationships between Choice and Punishment Factors.- 8. Experimental Analysis.- 9. Nonexperimental Analysis.- 10. Applying the Rationality Model to Individual Criminality.- 11. Rationality and Proneness to Taking Risks.- 12. Societal Crime.- 13. Previous Research on Individual Criminality.- 14. Previous Research on Societal Crime.- 15. An Aggregation Model.- 16. Basing the Analysis on Crime Opportunity and Crime Propensity Factors.- Summary and Conclusions.- References.- Appendix 1. A General Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Outcome Utility and Risk-Taking.- • Equivalencies in utility • Problems in determining the functions • The method.- Appendix 2. Derivation of Formulas in Chapter 7.- Appendix 3. Proof of Statement in Chapter 7.