Hypothesis development
Based on the economics of crime literature, pioneered by Becker (1968), every illegal act is viewed as an economic
activity driven by self-interest and a rich set of values and inclinations. The presumption in this research is that everyone
has the same motivations but criminals’ costs, benefits, preferences and opportunities differ. Moreover, behavior is
assumed to be forward-looking, which suggests that criminals consider the future consequences of their actions when they
contemplate an illegal act.