Question 1.) Rational Choice theorists argue that would-be criminals make the decision to commit crimes based on a cost-benefit analysis. Do you agree with this school of thought? Why?
Question 2.) Assuming that you agree with the thinking of rational theorists, what cost-benefit factors would an individual contemplating the following crimes consider:
- Participation in a banking embezzlement scheme that could potentially earn the individual $500,000 over the course of two years.
- Burglary of a house where the valuables contained could be sold for at least $500,000.
Question 3.) How are the factors you identified similar or dissimilar for the embezzlement and burglary plots? Why?