A ‘shift in legal morality’ has led to wider acceptance of shoplifting in Denmark, a new study has found, with one in ten believing that shoplifting can be justified in specific circumstances.
The study, by De Samvirkende Købmænd (DSK), the Danish association of cooperative retailers, found that four in ten Danes do not entirely ‘reject’ the practice of shoplifting, depending on the context.
“We are facing a challenge that is not only about shoplifting as such, but also about a broader acceptance of shoplifting and pickpocketing in society,” commented Jannick Nytoft, CEO of DSK.
“Unfortunately, there has been a significant shift in the tolerance of this form of crime to a greater extent than before.”
Shoplifting on the rise
Cases of shoplifting are set to rise 13% this year, to close to 28,000, while over the past two years, incidents have risen by more than 60%.
According to an October survey carried out by DSK, 39% of Danes are not entirely opposed to shoplifting, a position that Nytoft describes as “completely wrong”, and places additional strain on businesses already dealing with economic challenges.
Nytoft called for a concerted effort to reinforce ethical norms and protect businesses from mounting economic losses. Without action, he warned, this trend could further erode trust and stability in Denmark’s retail sector. Read more here.
GDP growth
Last week, Denmark raised its GDP outlook for the year, stating that it expects GDP to grow by 3.0%, up from the 1.9% forecast in August. Elsewhere, the GDP forecast for 2025 was raised to 2.9% growth, up from a previous forecast of 2.2%.
In a statement, the Danish economic ministry said that the pharmaceutical industry was helping to fuel GDP growth, particularly the rapid expansion of Novo Nordisk, the producer of popular weight-loss treatments.
