Open-access The Effect of Economic Inequality on Homicides in the European Union

ABSTRACT

Based on the work of Blau and Blau (1982), this article studies the correlation between inequality and homicides in the European Union after the last economic crisis of 2008. In order to attain this goal, we use a data panel with fixed effects in which the inequality moving average is used to capture its cumulative effects. The results show that inequality has a positive effect on every analysis made, confirming Blau and Blau’s reasoning. Furthermore, absolute poverty is also an important homicide rate enhancer in the EU. Moreover, the sample is divided into five groups under the welfare regime of every country to control the differences, and some divergences on the effect of the variables analyzed about homicides have been detected. Finally, it is determined that social support is a factor that contributes to minimizing this type of crime.

economic inequality; murder rates; European Union; economic crisis; welfare systems

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Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Políticos (IESP) da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) R. da Matriz, 82, Botafogo, 22260-100 Rio de Janeiro RJ Brazil, Tel. (55 21) 2266-8300, Fax: (55 21) 2266-8345 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: dados@iesp.uerj.br
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