Gary S. Becker was a pioneering economist who extended the scope of economic analysis to a wide range of human behavior, including crime, family relations, education, and discrimination. His groundbreaking application of rational choice theory to non-market behavior led to the development of what is often called “economic imperialism”—the use of economic principles to explain social phenomena traditionally studied by sociology, criminology, and psychology.
Becker’s most influential contribution to criminology was his 1968 article “Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach”, in which he proposed that individuals decide to engage in criminal acts based on a cost-benefit analysis. This approach laid the foundation for rational choice theories of crime and inspired subsequent research in deterrence theory and situational crime prevention.
Becker received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1992 for having extended the domain of microeconomic analysis to a wide range of human behavior and interaction. His work continues to influence not only economics, but also sociology, criminology, demography, and public policy.
