Purpose – The paper aims to investigate the effect of GDP growth on crime and to test the hypothesis ofnonlinearity. Additionally, we estimate the interaction between GDP and income inequality and examine itsimpact on the relationship between GDP and homicide rates.Design/methodology/approach – The study utilizes panel data from the Organization for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD), spanning the period from 2000 to 2018 and estimates dynamic panelGMM models.Findings – We found a nonlinear relationship between GDP and homicide rates, indicating a dual effect ofGDP on the occurrence of lethal crimes. Moreover, income inequality conditions the effect of GDP onhomicide rates, exerting a significant influence. We conclude that in contexts characterized by high levelsof income inequality, GDP growth is more effective in reducing crime, as there is greater potential forimprovement.Originality/value – This paper contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into the complexnonlinearity between economic conditions, income inequality and homicide rates.

This study aims to assess the determinants of using safety devices in Brazilian households, taking into account different urban–rural country contexts and income distribution. Probit models are estimated using microdata from the 2009 Brazilian National Household Sampling Survey. On average, less than half of the underprivileged population adopts safety devices, whereas almost double as many do so among the wealthy. Findings also indicate an inverse association between the level of urbanization and adoption of safety protective devices, especially of modern ones—a pattern mediated by individual levels of victimization and safety perceptions. For example, previous victimization by theft or robbery is more decisive for adopting safety protective devices among economically underprivileged households compared to wealthier ones. These results provide evidence of the perverse effects of unequal commodification of security across a country that penalizes, in particular, the rural poor.

根据不同的城乡背景和收入分布, 本文评估了巴西家庭使用安全装置的决定因素。利用2009年巴西全国家庭抽样调查（Brazilian National Household Sampling Survey）的微观数据, 对Probit模型进行了估算。总体而言, 不到半数的贫困人口使用了安全装置, 采用安全装置的富裕人口是贫困人口的两倍。研究结果还表明, 城市化水平与采用安全装置（特别是现代化装置）存在着反向关联, 这种关联模式受到受害程度和安全感知的影响。例如, 在曾经遭遇盗窃或抢劫的情况下, 经济贫困家庭比富裕家庭更倾向于使用安全装置。这些结果证明, 安全的非公平商品化产生了不良后果, 尤其是牺牲了农村贫困人口的利益。

This study investigates the space-temporal growth of homicide rates in Brazil from 2000 to 2017 and identifies determinants of the country?s growth of homicide rates. Data from the Brazilian Information System on Mortality and Censuses are used to estimate growth models combined with spatial statistics and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Findings show evidence of change in the geographical distribution of lethal violence over time, characterized by a steady increase in the North and Northeast regions and a reduction in growth in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. Social disorganization factors namely deprivation, ethnic heterogeneity, and urbanization are significant positive determinants of the growth of homicide rates. The results show a reduction of the predictive strength of income inequality and an increase in that of unemployment from the year 2010 to 2017. The theoretical and policy implications of these results are discussed.

This paper investigates the effect of absolute deprivation (proxy unemployment)and relative deprivation (proxy income inequality) on homicide levels in Brazil. Adatabase from the Brazilian Information System about Mortality and Census of theyear 2000 and 2010 was used to estimate negative binomial models of homicidelevels controlling for socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic factors. Findingsshow that unemployment and income inequality affect homicides levels and that theeffect of the former is more pronounced compared to the latter. Moreover, thecombination of income inequality and unemployment exacerbates the overall effectof deprivation on homicide levels.