A Framework for the Allocation of Prevention Resources with a Specific Application to Insider Trading

This Note enumerates and analyzes the three principal forces that induce individuals to abide by societal laws. These forces, or elements of effective prevention, are then combined to form a framework of general deterrence that both identifies the areas in which society can introduce resources into the prevention plan and explains in a general manner what the effect of particular expenditures will be. In the final section of the Note, the framework is applied to a specific prohibited activity-insider trading in securities-to exemplify its utility in determining more effective applications of prevention resources.