NCJ Number
166302
Journal
International Criminal Justice Review Volume: 5 Dated: (1995) Pages: 17-31
Date Published
1995
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This research examined cross-national variations in thefts, focusing exclusively on less developed countries since they are developing in historical and situational contexts that are substantially different from those under which already developed countries evolved.
Abstract
The research employed a larger sample of countries than has been used in previous cross-national research on property crimes, and the analysis included variables representing the three major theoretical perspectives on cross-national crime (Durkheimian- Modernization, Ecological-Opportunity, and Marxian-World System). Additional variables included an indicator of political rights, percentage of the population that was Protestant, and percentage of the population that was Catholic. These variables were analyzed to represent previously neglected political and cultural aspects of developing countries. Data on thefts per 100,000 population were obtained from the International Criminal Police Organization. Of variables representing the three major theoretical perspectives, only Gross Domestic Product per person exhibited a significant association with theft rates. Both Political Rights and Percent Protestant exhibited significant positive associations with theft rates and accounted for more variation in thefts than variables derived from the theoretical perspectives. Results indicate the need for a theoretical perspective on cross-national variations in thefts that includes political and cultural aspects of countries. Theft rates in less developed countries are tabulated in an appendix. 56 references and 3 tables