NCJ Number
148390
Journal
Sociological Spectrum Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (April-June 1994) Pages: 181-191
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article contains details of the author's theory that poverty has a greater effect on property crime in areas of larger population size and concentration than it does in areas of smaller and less concentrated populations.
Abstract
Motivation theories suggest a positive association between poverty and property crime, while opportunity theories suggest a negative or null association. Research on the association of poverty to property crime has yielded inconsistent and conflicting results. In support of his theory attributing a greater effect of poverty on property crime in areas of larger and more concentrated population, the author cites data showing virtually no effect of poverty in smaller cities of low population concentration, a moderate effect in all cities in areas of greater population concentration, and a large effect in larger cities in areas of high population concentration. This may be due to the poverty in areas of high population concentration in larger cities resulting in the formation of a deviant subculture. Tables, references