1) The Traditional crimes are divided into specific categories of offences, such

as, offences against the State, offences against the Human body, offences
against property etc. , These offences are of permanent character, and the
constituent elements of these offences remain unchanged. Whereas in the
case of socio-economic offences constituent elements undergo changes time
to time and socio-economic offences are short lived.
2) The Traditional crimes are a kind of positive aggressions and result in direct
and immediate injury but the socio-economic crimes are in the shape of
positive aggressions or invasions. Socio-economic crimes may or may not
result in direct or immediate injury, nevertheless they create a danger which
or the probability of which the law must seek to minimize.
3) In Traditional concept of crimes no crime can be committed without guilty
mind (Mens Rea) whereas in the case of socio-economic offences the
requirement of Mens Rea maybe excluded either expressly or by necessary
implications.
4) The Traditional crimes being of a permanent nature they are punishable
under the general law of crimes which takes care of things happening
frequently; the socio-economic offences being the outcome of changing
conditions in society require repeated legislative attention. These offences
are punishable under the provisions of various kinds of special enactments
which together constitute the special law of crimes.
5) The dominant feature of the traditional law of crimes is its function to
preserve public order. But the dominant feature of the special law of crimes
is to guard against all those practices which are offensive or injurious to the
health and well-being of the people, besides helping state in maintaining
order. The socio-economic offences deals with conduct which is offensive to
the welfare of the people. It has to keep society free from exploitation by
these who are physically strong and economically rich as against those who
are physically weak and economically poor.