Legal inconsistencies in the field of intelligence-gathering and their impact on the investigation of economic crime

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of horizontal, vertical, and temporal legal inconsistencies on intelligence-gathering activity during the investigation of economic crime. The study employed content analysis to interpret doctrinal definitions of economic crime and the associated liability. A case study method was applied to assess the specific features of intelligence-gathering practices in Ukraine, Germany, and Italy. The comparative analysis demonstrated that Italy shows the highest effectiveness in investigating economic crimes, including transnational cases. The lower effectiveness observed in Germany and Ukraine is linked to the presence of legal inconsistencies, the most commonly documented being: insufficient harmonisation of legal frameworks concerning corporate liability for economic crimes; lack of standardised approaches to the criminal liability of legal entities; underdeveloped principles for interdisciplinary cooperation in economic crime investigations; and non-compliance of certain aspects of national legislation with universal standards. In response to these identified issues, the following strategic groups for addressing legal inconsistencies in the investigation of economic crime were proposed: the introduction of a unified model for investigating economic crime; the establishment of universal requirements for anti-corruption compliance; the creation of a central coordinating body to promote interdisciplinary cooperation among investigative authorities; the legislative consolidation of investigative procedures with a focus on human rights; and the harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with European standards in the field of economic crime investigation. The findings may be utilised to improve the rate of successful investigations of economic crime in Ukraine and foster equitable and favourable conditions for conducting business activities