barriers and back regions as opportunity structures for white-collar crime

Opportunities for crime are a central component in many explanatory models for criminality. In research on white-collar crime, this emerges particularly through emphasis on the importance of social position for the possibility of carrying out crime. This article argues that Goffman's ideas about barriers and back regions should be used to specify how social positions strengthen the opportunities for committing economic crime. The basic insight is that opportunities arise in situations where people by virtue of their positions build up barriers that prevent others from foreseeing and becoming aware of what goes on. An empirical case analysis clarifies the concepts’ theoretical content, empirical relevance, and applicability to the research area. Further developments of this approach are discussed in conclusion.