Unemployment, Inequality, Poverty and Crime: Spatial Distribution Patterns of Criminal Acts in Belgium, 2001-06

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that various deprivation indicators have a positive impact on crime rates at the community level. In this article, we investigate the impact of deprivation indicators on crime in Belgian municipalities (n = 589) for the period 2001-06. A spatial regression analysis demonstrates that unemployment figures have a strong and significant impact on crime rates, and this effect is stronger than the effect of income levels. Income inequality has a significant positive impact on property crime rates but a negative impact on violent crime. Crime is heavily concentrated in the urban centres of Belgium, but we also observe some important regional variations. Demographic structure was not related to crime levels, while spatial analysis shows there is a spill-over effect to neighbouring communities for property crime, but not for violent crime. We close with some theoretical and policy considerations on the relation between unemployment and crime.

Mental disorders in Italian prisoners: Results of the REDiMe study

“…Poverty is a factor related to committing crimes against property (Blau and Blau, 1982;Hooghe et al, 2011;Valdez et al 2007). Antisocial personality disorder was related to offending and reoffending, too, particularly as far as violent crimes were concerned.…”

The relation between ethnic diversity and fear of crime: An analysis of police records and survey data in Belgian communities

“…We do not have any information on the perpetrators of criminal acts, as police records obviously do not contain information on the ethnic origin of all perpetrators. An alternative strategy is to rely on spatial data that allow us to ascertain whether, at the aggregate level, there is at least a correlation between the presence of ethnic minorities and the occurrence of specific criminal acts (Sampson, 2008;Hooghe et al, 2011). While taking into account both the actual level of crime and the presence of ethnic minorities in local communities, we ascertain whether the relation between diversity and fear of crime can be explained by to the occurrence of anti-immigrant sentiments.…”

Types of Crime, Poverty, Population Density and Presence of Police in the Metropolitan District of Quito

“…Poverty, inequality and lack of resources have been associated with crime [3][4][5], and positive relationships between socioeconomic disadvantages and crime and inequalities have been found by previous research [3,6,7]. However, the association between socio-economic deprivation and crime may have divergent relationships.…”