This work investigates the systemic causes of elite deviance by examining how the concentration of power and wealth in the United States facilitates both criminal and non-criminal acts that inflict widespread societal harm. Authors David R. Simon and D. Stanley Eitzen utilize a sociological framework to analyze the intersection of corporate interests and political corruption. By synthesizing historical case studies with contemporary political analysis, the authors argue that elite deviance is a structural byproduct of the American power hierarchy rather than merely the result of individual moral failings.

This text is regarded as a foundational academic resource for understanding the sociological dimensions of white-collar and political crime. The framing suggests a dense, analytical approach suitable for students and researchers interested in the intersection of power, policy, and institutional malfeasance.