NCJ Number
65881
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 45-53
Date Published
1980
Length
9 pages
Annotation
BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF HOMICIDE RATES FOR 31 COUNTRIES, THE STUDY EXAMINED THE EFFECTS OF INCOME INEQUALITY AND EQUALITARIAN SOCIAL CONDICTIONS ON CRIME.
Abstract
HOMICIDE IS THE ONLY CRIME CATEGORY HAVING AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF UNIFORMITY AMONG NATIONS. DATA PROVIDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION WERE AVERAGED OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD FROM 1955 TO 1974. CORRELATIONS BETWEEN HOMICIDE AND SEVERAL INEQUALITY INDEXES, EXCEPT INEQUALITY IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND, WERE STRONG. MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS WHICH INCLUDED VARIABLES OF PROTEIN GRAMS PER CAPITA, A POLITICAL FREEDOM INDEX, AND AN ETHNIC FRACTIONALIZATION INDEX CONFIRMED THE VALIDITY OF INCOME INEQUALITY AS A PREDICTOR OF HOMICIDE RATES. IN THIS CONTEXT, COUNTRIES WITH A STRONG PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES COMMITTED TO EQUALIZING WEALTH SHOULD HAVE LOW HOMICIDE RATES. ANALYSES OF THE LEGISLATIVE STRENGTH OF SOCIALIST PARTIES FOR 20 COUNTRIES PRODUCED CORRELATIONS WITH HOMICIDE RATES, BUT THE RELATIONSHIPS WERE NOT AS STRONG AS WITH INCOME INEQUALITY. DESPITE WEAKNESSES IN THE INTERSECTORAL INCOME EQUALITY INDEX AND HOMICIDE DATA, THE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY OTHER STUDIES COMPARING HOMICIDE RATES, INEQUALITY, AND CRIME. TABLES, REFERENCES, AND A LIST OF THE NATIONS INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED - MJM)