Date

6-2021

Department

Graduate School of Business

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Chair

Melissa Washington

Keywords

Embezzlement, asset misappropriation, occupational fraud, economic indicators

Disciplines

Accounting

Abstract

This research study was conducted to contribute to the body of knowledge related to embezzlement, a classification of occupational fraud. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE, 2020), it is estimated that losses from occupational fraud represent 5% of revenue each year and that 86% of occupational fraud included asset misappropriation or embezzlement. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to investigate the relationship between economic indicators and incidents of embezzlement. The study population included all incidents of embezzlement reported in New England between 2004 and 2018. Archival data were collected from various governmental sources for both the embezzlement incidents and the economic indicators. The data analysis process included statistical analysis of the data over time, known as time-series analysis. The statistical analysis indicated that economic indicators do not help predict incidents of embezzlement. The findings of this study may impact the way organizational leaders and accounting professionals assess risk related to embezzlement. Vigilance of fraud risk, regardless of economic conditions, may help organizational leaders protect against losses from embezzlement.

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