ABSTRACTThe allegation often made in regard to studies of white‐collar crime is that they tend to take the form of unrelated case materials devoid of hypotheses or theory. This article suggests that the radical criminologists fail to come to grips with this issue because of preconceived ideas about the relationship of economic structure and upper‐world criminal activity. The works of Adam Smith offer a number of interesting propositions that can form a framework for empirical investigation in the area of white‐collar crime. Smith's most fundamental hypothesis was that there would be an increase in violations by persons in power if there was interference with what he designated as pure capit