Johnny Ch Lok

Welfare Economy And Crime Rate Johnny Ch Lok

Criminologists say bad economies create more crime; economists say the opposite. But recent data reveals neither explanation is right. I've been wondering if hard economic times would cause people to commit more crimes. For example, areas with chronic poverty and unemployment tend to have high rates of child neglect and abuse. Child neglect and abuse greatly increase the risk of juveniles getting involved in crime. So areas with high rates of unemployment cop a double whammy. Their crime rates are higher because of the direct effect of unemployment and its long-term indirect effects as well. Will the current recession produce an increase in crime?