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Economic and Business Crimes Law

Code: 102247
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Law OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Antonio Cardona Barber
Email :
antonio.cardona@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

For the proper completion and successful attainment of the learning objectives of this course, students are advised to have previously passed the compulsory Criminal Law courses (Criminal Law I, Criminal Law II and Criminal Law III).

Objectives

  1. To understand the doctrinal foundations and the essential characteristics of economic and corporate crime.
  2. To identify and interpret the constituent elements of the principal offences covered in the course.
  3. To determine the legal consequences arising from the commission of such offences, with particular attention to criminal penalties and other measures provided for by law.
  4. To analyse and solve criminal law issues relating to economic crime through the application of relevant legislation, case law and academic doctrine.
  5. To classify legally relevant facts relating to economic crime and determine the corresponding criminal consequences.

Learning outcomes

  1. Managing bibliographic and documentary resources: databases, browsing, etc.
  2. Use different information and communication technologies.
  3. Students must be capable of making decisions.
  4. Identifying and solving problems.
  5. Planning and organising: managing of time, resources, etc.
  6. Students must be capable of learning autonomously and having an entrepreneurial spirit.
  7. Students must be capable of perceiving the impact and implications of the decisions taken.
  8. Memorising and using the criminal specific terminology.
  9. Identifying and knowing the limiting principles of labour law.
  10. Identifying, knowing and applying the interpretative principles of criminal law.
  11. Drawing up resolutions of criminal cases.
  12. Drawing up documents of specific criminal content linked to the process, fundamentally of provisional conclusions, appeals, and sentences.
  13. Solving interpretation and application problems of criminal laws.
  14. Finding the applicable legislation between the criminal code and special criminal laws.
  15. Identifying and assessing the jurisprudence of Provincial Courts and the Supreme Court in criminal matters.
  16. Using the arguments of criminal and constitutional jurisprudence for the resolution of criminal problems.
  17. Verbally explaining the resolution of problems related to criminal laws.
  18. Acquiring the basic knowledge of criminal law.
  19. Arguing the implementation of criminal laws in the resolution of criminal problems.
  20. Laying the foundation for the implementation of criminal laws in the resolution of criminal problems.
  21. Identifying the conflicts of interest underlying in a general criminal law suit.
  22. Identifying the conflicts of interest underlying in a concrete criminal law suit.
  23. Becoming aware of the importance of the ethical commitment of the lawyer in the criminal proceeding.
  24. Defining defence strategies of the criminal legal interests.
  25. Introducing in the classroom the defence or accusation of criminal cases.
  26. Distinguishing the important connexion between the substantive criminal law and the procedural criminal law.
  27. Defining the link between the criminal law and the constitutional principles and values.
  28. Distinguishing the dependence and autonomy relations between criminal law and the rest of branches of the legal system (civil, labour, administration, finances).
  29. Using the main constitutional principles and values as a working tool in the interpretation of the legal system.
  30. Searching criminal sentences in databases.
  31. Interpreting the criminal laws as criminal policy decisions.
  32. Defining the main criminal institutions.
  33. Present information in a way that is appropriate to the type of audience.

Contents


TOPIC 1. INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC CRIMINAL LAW

TOPIC 2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMIC AND CORPORATE CRIMINAL LAW

TOPIC 3. PROPERTY OFFENCES OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC RELEVANCE

TOPIC 4. INSOLVENCY OFFENCES

TOPIC 5. DOCUMENT FORGERY OFFENCESTOPIC 6. CORPORATE OFFENCES

TOPIC 7. OFFENCES AGAINST THE MARKET AND CONSUMERS

TOPIC 8. OFFENCES AGAINST INTELLECTUAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

TOPIC 9. MONEY LAUNDERING AND HANDLING STOLEN GOODS

TOPIC 10. OFFENCES AGAINST THE PUBLIC TREASURY AND SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

TOPIC 11. ECONOMIC OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

TOPIC 12. URBAN PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES

TOPIC 13. OFFENCES AGAINST WORKERS’ RIGHTS

TOPIC 14. CRIMINAL LIABILITY OF LEGAL PERSONS AND COMPLIANCE

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Practical classes 22 0.88 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
Theorical classes 22 0.88 2, 8, 9, 10, 18, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32
Bibliography an?lisis, debate, study of jurisprudence 104 4.16 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 
The learning process is based on the work of the student who learns by working, being the teacher's mission to help him in this work by supplying the information and showing the sources where it can be obtained. The development of the teaching of the subject and the training of the student is based on the following activities: 1. Directed activities 1.1. Lectures: where the student assumes the conceptual bases of the subject and its normative and jurisprudential framework. Lectures are activities that require less interactivity with the student and are conceived as a fundamentally unidirectional method of transmitting knowledge from the teacher to the student.1.2. Practical classes: where the student analyzes and solves previously elaborated practical cases together with the teacher. The basis of the practical work is the understanding and critical application of the regulations and jurisprudence related to the essential content explained in the theoretical classes. These are activities that students develop in the classroom, with the supervision and support of the teacher. It is about the resolution of some practical case in the classroom, study and discussion of legal texts. 2. Autonomous activities.The student will have to dedicate most of the time of the subject to work the content of the same with the manuals and reference materials, to read complementary bibliography, to elaborate concept maps, to write the practical activities and to study the final exam.
Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
theoretical exam 50% 2 0.08 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 27, 28, 32
Continuous Assessment Activities 50% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33

ASSESSMENT

(1) Continuous Assessment

The course is assessed through a continuous assessment system designed to evaluate the extent to which students achieve the intended learning outcomes and acquire the specific and transferable competencies associated with the subject.

The final grade will be based on the following assessment activities:

(a) Continuous Assessment Activities (50% of the final grade)

Two assessment activities related to the course contents will be conducted during the semester.

The combined mark obtained in these activities will account for 50% of the final grade.

Students who fail any of these activities may complete a specific resit activity on the date scheduled for the resit assessment period. Resit assessment will only be available in cases of insufficient performance and may not be used for grade improvement purposes.

The timetable, characteristics and assessment criteria of the different activities will be communicated through the Virtual Campus at the beginning of the semester.

(b) Final Theoretical Examination (50% of the final grade)

The final examination will consist of a multiple-choice test covering all course contents.

In order for the mark obtained in this examination to be combined with the marks from the other assessment activities, students must obtain a minimum score of 3.5 out of 10. Otherwise, no overall average grade will be calculated and passing the resit examination will be required in order to pass the course.

Students who fail this examination or who wish to improve their grade may sit the resit examination. In such cases, the mark obtained in the resit examination will replace the original mark, even if it is lower.

(c) Practical Learning Activities

Throughout the course, several practical learning activities will be carried out in order to consolidate acquired knowledge and develop students’ abilities in legal analysis, critical reasoning and case-solving.

Active, regular and well-founded participation in these activities forms part of the learning process and may be taken into account by the teaching staff in the overall assessment of students’ academic performance.

(2) Single Assessment

Students who have obtained authorisation to follow the single assessment system must complete a comprehensive final assessment lasting approximately three hours and consisting of:

(a) A multiple-choice examination covering the course contents (50% of the final grade).

(b) The resolution of two practical cases related to the course contents (50% of the final grade).

The same resit assessment rules applicable to continuous assessment students shall apply.

Resit Assessment

Students who meet the requirements established by current academic regulations may access the resit assessment process.

(a) Resit of the Final Examination

Students who fail the final theoretical examination may take the resit examination on the date established by the Faculty.

The mark obtained in the resit examination will fully replace the original mark, even if it is lower.

No minimum grade is required to access the resit examination.

(b) Resit of Continuous Assessment Activities

Continuous assessment activities may only be reassessed when the original grade is below 5 out of 10.

Resit assessment may not be used to improve grades that have already been passed.

Final Course Grade

The final course grade will result from the weighted average of the different assessment activities according to the percentages established above.

In order to pass the course, students must obtain a final grade of at least 5 out of 10.

Review of Grades

Upon publication of the grades, information regarding the date, time and procedure for grade review will be provided.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence tools is permitted exclusively as a support instrument for auxiliary tasks such as information retrieval, bibliographic research, consultation of materials or content organisation.

The use of such tools for the total or partial generation of texts, answers or assessment activities is not permitted unless expressly authorised by the teaching staff.

Whenever artificial intelligence tools are used in authorised academic activities, students must clearly and transparently disclose their use, specifying the tools employed and the extent of their contribution.

Failure to disclose the use of such technologies may be considered a breach of academic integrity principles and may entail the consequences established by university regulations.

Academic Integrity

Copying or attempting to copy in any assessment activity, as well as total or partial plagiarism in assignments, practical exercises or any other academic work, constitutes a serious breach of academic integrity principles.

Such conduct will be sanctioned in accordance with the University's academic and disciplinary regulations, without prejudice to any additional responsibilities that may arise in each particular case.


Bibliography

Recommended Bibliography

General Reference Textbooks

GONZÁLEZ CUSSAC, J. L. (dir.), Tratado de Derecho Penal Económico y de la Empresa, 2 volúmenes, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2025.

ÁLVAREZ GARCÍA, F. J. (dir.), Tratado de Derecho Penal Español. Parte Especial (II): Delitos patrimoniales y económicos, 2.ª edición, 2 volúmenes, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2026.

DE LA MATA BARRANCO, N.; DOPICO GÓMEZ-ALLER, J.; LASCURAÍN SÁNCHEZ, J. A. y NIETO MARTÍN, A., Derecho penal económico y de la empresa, Dykinson, Madrid, 2024. Disponible en acceso abierto a través del repositorio institucional de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (https://e-archivo.uc3m.es/entities/publication/6deb8f9c-6976-4265-bd3d-bb303f52d0bc).

Additional Reading

MARTÍNEZ-BUJÁN PÉREZ, C., Derecho penal económico y de la empresa. Parte general, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2016.

Important Note: All recommended bibliography is available to students free of charge, either through the electronic resources provided by the UAB Library Service and the databases subscribed to by the University, or through the open-access materials expressly indicated above.

Software

The subjec does not require any specific software.

 

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 51 Spanish second semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 51 Spanish second semester afternoon