Abstract

CARRILLO-SAGASTEGUI, Luis Lauro  and  GARCIA-FERNANDEZ, Francisco. Relationship between inequality and crime in Northeast Mexico. Nóesis, Rev. cienc. soc. [online]. 2021, vol.30, n.60, pp.226-250.  Epub Sep 12, 2022. ISSN 2395-8669.  https://doi.org/10.20983/noesis.2021.2.11.

Inequality and crime are phenomena that threaten the quality of life of citizens. This study aims to i) analyze the relationship between inequality and the crime rate per 100 inhabitants in Basic Geostatistical Areas of the municipality of Victoria, Mexico; ii) determine the predictive capacity of crime inequality; and iii) identify which crimes are most correlated with inequality. It is assumed that there is a positive relationship between the Gini coefficient and the crime rate. A simple linear regression model was applied. The results indicate a significant correlation (r = 0.510) (P> 0.001), and the explained variance (r^ 2 = 0.26); Likewise, the model indicates that for each degree that inequality increases, 1,114 crimes per 100 inhabitants increase; and house robbery is the crime that most correlates with inequality, with (r = 0.376).

Keywords : inequality; wealth; criminality; municipality; basic geostatistical areas; urban space; northeast of Mexico.