In crime analysis, I oftentimes analyze the socioeconomic status of respondents. However, many of my results have shown that they do not necessarily influences crime experience of respondents. Whereas, examination of criminal occurrence in the environment proof otherwise. Therefore, I need scholarly and professional advice on the question.
Thank you all.
Raji, A. A.
It is closely related to poverty, social exclusion, wage and income inequality, cultural and family background, level of education and other economic and social factors that may affect individual's propensity to commit crimes such as cultural characteristics, age and sex. Crime rates were found to be higher during periods of unemployment than during periods of employment. This was particularly true for 'offences involving material gain, at the younger ages (15-16), for the most delinquent prone youths and for youths with lower status jobs. Poverty affects societies on a social, cultural, psychological and political level, resulting in increased crime and violence. Nations easily become entangled in a vicious cycle that perpetuates these problems. Research shows that individuals from low-income backgrounds tend to not only commit more crimes but are also more often victims of crime. The results of some studies suggest that higher levels of education, better socioeconomic status and being married officially are factors that reduce domestic violence against women, while drinking, being younger, having less social support and premarital and extramarital relationships further contribute to domestic violence.
The phenomenon you are describing is well known in criminology since a long time and there is no quick and easy answer. I suggest to start reading the following articles that will help you to get a better understanding of this issue and the empirical and conceptual problems involved (with a special recommendation of the article by Wikström & Treiber, 2016):
- Dunaway, R. G., Cullen, F. T., Burton jr., V. S., & Evans, T. D. (2000). The myth of social class and crime revisited: An examination of class and adult criminality. Criminology, 38, 589--632.
- Van de Werve, I., Blokland, A., & Weerman, F. (2022). Crime, families and the economy: Micro-conditions as moderator of macro-effects. Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology, 8, 96--123.
- Wikström, P.-O. H. & Treiber, K. (2016). Social disadvantage and crime: A criminological puzzle. American Behavioral Scientist, 60, 1232--1259.
- Wright, B. R. E., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E. Miech, R. A. & Silva, P. A. (1999). Reconsidering the relationship between SES and delinquency: Causation but no correlation. Criminology, 37, 175--194.
If you want to delve deeper into the micro-macro issue I recommend the following article by Ross Matsueda (not for the faint-hearted) that can be applied to your problem, as well:
- Matsueda, R. L. (2017). Toward an analytical criminology: The micro-macro problem, causal mechanisms, and public policy. Criminology, 55, 493--519.
@Faruk Hadzic, thank you for your answer. It really provides an insight for more research activities.
@Dirk Enzmann, your scholarly response to the question is appreciated. Your suggested articles will no doubt contribute to my research focus. Thank you.
There's a nexus between the variables you mentioned i.e economic status, social inequality, poverty, environment also plays a key role in commission of crime and its occurrence
@Abdulrashid Hassan Kawure, thank you for your answer. It really assist and provide more insight in handling such variables for further research.
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