Interrelationships Between Violent Crime, Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors: A Preliminary Analysis Between Central-Northern European Countries and Mediterranean Countries

Abstract

Abstract. The paper here investigates possible relationships between violent crime, migration and unemployment. Results seem to show an association between some crimes - such as theft, assaults and sexual violence- and immigration but not between intentional homicides and immigration. Preliminary evidence also suggests that intentional homicides are associated with high rates of unemployment, linking this violent crime to socioeconomic and situational factors within countries. In addition, unlike commonplace opinions, statistical evidence here reveals that rich countries have levels of violent crime higher than poor countries. Especially, violent crime in central-northern European regions (geo-economic areas with high GDP per capita, e.g., Germany, Finland, Norway, etc.) is higher than Mediterranean countries with lower GDP per capita (e.g., Greece, Italy, Spain, etc.). These conclusions are of course tentative. There is need for much more detailed research into the relations between unemployment, immigration and violent crime to explain general causes of these social issues in modern economies. This study concludes with some socioeconomic implications and explanations.  Keywords. Violent crime, Violence, Theft, Sexual violence, Intentional homicides, Immigrants, Migration, Unemployment, Europe, Poverty, Mediterranean countries. JEL. C10, I30, J10, J11, J15, J20, J60, J61, J62, O15.