Collaborative Research Networks
Organizers
Diane Ring, Costantino Grasso, Donato Vozza, Li Huang, and Stephen Holden
The Economic Crime and Corporate Compliance CRN aims to create a multi-disciplinary global forum to share and collaborate on research exploring and debating criminal phenomena related to economic activities and how institutions and business organizations can develop measures to mitigate the risks of such criminal activities. We aim to establish a long-term dialogue on traditional economic crimes such as corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, fraud, insider trading, terrorism financing, and cybercrime as well as interconnected criminal practices such as environmental crimes and corporate homicide. It also aims to broaden the scope of current economic crime research to address unethical and socially harmful economic behaviors, including unethical lobbying, tax avoidance, and environmental degradation, which might not necessarily be criminal but are detrimental to social well-being. We also encourage the study of the societal and environmental implications of such activities by critically observing and reflecting on the phenomena. We encourage scholars from law, criminology, sociology, business, and ethics, as well as other social science and humanities disciplines, such as anthropology, history, and psychology, to contribute to this CRN.
The CRN places a special emphasis on the legal dimensions that surround these harmful forms of misconduct, analyzing whether the applicable legal and regulatory frameworks are facilitating or hindering their occurrences. Furthermore, the CRN seeks to examine organizational responses adopted by both public institutions and private entities including governance mechanisms, compliance programs, due diligence procedures, codes of conduct, internal investigations, and voluntary disclosures, as well as measures of public-private cooperation. Also, prevalent trends in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) will be explored to evaluate the adequacy of such approaches to mitigate harmful behavior and develop new potential solutions. Taking into account the importance of transparency and integrity in preventing and addressing organizational misconduct, this CRN will place particular focus on studying and discussing systems that promote the free flow of information within society. The network aims to assist in uncovering improper behavior, and in doing so, acknowledges the crucial contributions made by key stakeholders such as NGOs, investigative journalists, and whistleblowers in this field. Finally, the CRN will engage in forward-thinking discussions about the role of emerging technologies in shaping both economic misconduct and ethical governance.
This CRN would positively contribute to the Law & Society Association’s CRN program by establishing a specialized, innovative, and dedicated platform for scholars to engage in sociolegal research and discussion related to economic crime and interconnected governance issues. The CRN would serve as a meeting ground for academic dialogue and cross-disciplinary collaboration, consistent with the core objectives of the LSA’s CRN program, and work synergically with other CRNs that cover different but interrelated topics such as Regulatory Governance (CRN 5), Punishment & Society (CRN 27), Law, Society and Taxation (CRN 31), Technology, Law and Society (CRN 37), Corporate and Securities Law in Society (CRN 46). In line with the LSA’s tradition of organizing thematic sessions during its Annual Meetings, this CRN aims to contribute by holding sessions that address the complexities of economic crimes and the ethical dimensions of corporate conduct.