World of Homicides: The Effect of Economic Development, Income Inequality, and Excess Infant Mortality on the Homicide Rate for 165 Countries in 2010

• NCJ Number: 240337
• Journal: Homicide Studies Volume: 3 Issue: 16 Dated: August 2012 Pages: 238-258
• Author(s): Marc Ouimet
• Date Published: August 2012
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study contrasted and compared the role of socioeconomic factors that explain variations in the homicide rate for 165 countries in 2010.

Abstract

The current study contrasts and compares the role of socioeconomic factors that explain variations in the homicide rate for 165 countries in 2010. Regression analyses demonstrate that economic development (GNI), inequality (Gini), and poverty (excess infant mortality) are significant predictors of the homicide rate for all countries. However, subsample analyses shows that income inequality, not economic development or poverty, predicts homicide for countries with a medium level of human development. Also, the variations in homicide for developing countries are inadequately explained by our model. To conclude, an analysis of the countries that exhibited significant discrepancies between their predicted and observed homicide rate is discussed. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.