Which term refers to illegal acts by corporations for profit?

• A. Moral Crime
• B. State Crime
• C. Corporate Crime
• D. Organized Crime

Answer: (C)

This item tests your understanding of the label used for illegal acts carried out by a company in pursuit of profit. Corporate crime refers to illegal or unethical actions conducted by a company or its representatives—such as fraud, bribery, tax evasion, environmental violations, or unsafe working practices—with the aim of financial gain or competitive advantage. The crucial idea is that the actor is the corporation or its agents and the motive is profit.

Moral crime isn’t a standard term used to classify corporate wrongdoing. State crime describes wrongdoing by government bodies or agents of the state. Organized crime refers to criminal activity conducted by structured groups (like gangs or syndicates) rather than by corporations themselves. So, the term that best captures illegal acts by corporations for profit is corporate crime.