Publication
Title
Unemployment, inequality, poverty and crime. : spatial distribution patterns of criminal acts in Belgium, 2001-06
Author
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 200106. 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.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The British journal of criminology, delinquency and deviant social behaviour. - London, 1960, currens
Publication
London : 2011
ISSN
0007-0955 [print]
1464-3529 [online]
DOI
10.1093/BJC/AZQ067
Volume/pages
51 :1 (2011) , p. 1-20
ISI
000286217200001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Law 
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 02.09.2014
Last edited 05.02.2023
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