Religion and the Acceptability of White-Collar Crime: A Cross-National Analysis

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 51: 542-567, 2012

26 Pages Posted: 19 Oct 2014

See all articles by Katie Corcoran

Katie Corcoran

University of Washington

David Pettinicchio

University of Toronto

Blaine Robbins

New York University Abu Dhabi

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

This article examines whether shared religious beliefs and religious social relationships (Durkheim) and belief in a personal, moral God (Stark) negatively affect attitudes toward the acceptability of white-collar crime. In addition, using a large cross-national sample and estimating multilevel models, we test whether effects are conditional on modernization and religious contexts characterized by belief in an impersonal or amoral God. Shared religious beliefs and the importance of God in one’s life are negatively related to the acceptability of white-collar crime. These effects, however, weaken in religious contexts characterized by belief in an impersonal or amoral God as do the effects of religious social relationships and belonging to a religious organization; modernization, on the other hand, does not have a moderating effect. In short, religious belief is associated with lower acceptance of white-collar crime and certain types of religious contexts condition this relationship.

Keywords: crime, white-collar crime, corruption, cross-national, religion, Durkheim, hell-fire thesis

Suggested Citation

Corcoran, Katie and Pettinicchio, David and Robbins, Blaine, Religion and the Acceptability of White-Collar Crime: A Cross-National Analysis (2012). Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 51: 542-567, 2012 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2511346

Katie Corcoran

University of Washington ( email )

Seattle, WA 98195
United States

David Pettinicchio (Contact Author)

University of Toronto ( email )

Sociology
725 Spadina
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2J4
Canada

Blaine Robbins

New York University Abu Dhabi ( email )

PO Box 129188
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

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