Impact of Institutional Environments on Cybercriminal Entrepreneurship

The rise of cybercriminal entrepreneurship has become a significant concern, with criminal enterprises exploiting institutional voids and regulatory weaknesses across different regions.

This research project aims to explore how varying institutional environments such as legal systems, regulatory frameworks, enforcement effectiveness, and cultural norms influence the emergence, operation, and growth of cybercriminal enterprises. By examining these factors, the study seeks to contribute to entrepreneurship theories by integrating insights from criminal contexts and enhancing our understanding of how institutional environments shape criminal entrepreneurship activities.

The researcher will undertake a comprehensive literature review on institutional theory and criminal entrepreneurship, followed by the development of a theoretical framework. The research will involve collecting and analyzing data on cybercrime activities across multiple countries. Possible data involves secondary data sources such as law enforcement reports, cybersecurity firm publications, and international cybercrime statistics. Quantitative methods may be employed to assess the relationship between institutional factors and the level of cybercriminal activity, with variables such as regulatory quality, enforcement intensity, and cultural norms being considered.

Opportunities for collaboration exist with cybersecurity firms, law enforcement agencies, and international organizations focused on cybercrime prevention such banking institutions. Such partnerships can provide valuable insights and access to data that may not be publicly available. The researcher may also engage with policymakers to understand current challenges and contribute to more effective regulatory strategies.

The ideal candidate should have prior knowledge in entrepreneurship theories and a solid understanding of institutional theory. Familiarity with quantitative research methods and data analysis is essential. A background in criminology, cybersecurity, or international relations would be advantageous but not mandatory.

By integrating insights from criminal contexts into entrepreneurship theories, your research could offer new perspectives on how to combat cybercrime more effectively. Engaging with policymakers and contributing to regulatory strategies could also lead to more robust frameworks to prevent cybercriminal activities.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:

1. Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
2. Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
3. Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.

Good luck!

This is a self funded topic

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Riccardo Nucci - Dr. Riccardo Nucci is Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Brunel Business School, Brunel University London. Prior to joining Brunel Business School, he had been a Research and Teaching Fellow at the University of Bath School of Management. His research focuses on Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Learning. Specifically, Riccardo concentrates on learning from business failures and from the observation of other entrepreneurs. He is a multi-method researcher with experience in in-depth interviews and experiments. He analyses data with NVivo, SPSS and also is an open-source software enthusiast mastering the use of R programming language applied to statistical analysis. He is an engaged scholar with extensive experience in collaborating with business incubation and growth platforms. Driven by his passion in entrepreneurial learning, he engages practitioners and nascent entrepreneurs providing pro bono mentoring support and helping them navigating through the journey of business start-up. OFFICE HOURS: Thursday from 11am to 12pm - Friday from 1pm to 2pm. Send an email to book an appointment at riccardo.nucci@brunel.ac.uk

Related Research Group(s)

Strategy Entrepreneurship and International Business - Our themes of research range from entrepreneurial and internationalisation strategies of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to inward and outward investment by large enterprises and supra-national governance.