How Does Income Inequality Increase Crime

This paper will examine the research question of whether or not income inequality increases crime rate. Income inequality can be defined as an unequal distribution of collective or individual income across the populace in a given economy. In conjunction with crime rate, the importance of income inequality is significant. Equality is a critical characteristic for most societies. The increase of inequality specifically in economic terms, creates a greater gap between the wealthy and the underprivileged. Income inequality could equate to social tensions amongst the populace as the less-fortunate feel deprived compared to the wealthy. These social tensions and unsatisfying feelings of the disadvantaged lead them to pursue compensation and gratification for their shortcomings, which could be in the form of committing crime. On the contrary, in order to maintain their financial standing and wealth, the prosperous may commit crime such as fraud, to secure their standing within the economy. The causal theory that a higher percentage of income inequality contributes to a higher crime rate, aids in the understanding of politics. The broad meaning of politics is described as actions within an organization or government that are aimed to improve …show more content…
Relative poverty is the absence of resources to maintain an appropriate living standard in relation to the overall conditions in society. It connects income inequality to crime rate because it is capable of further leading to deviance, which can prompt crime. As mentioned in the introduction, the less fortunate more often than not, compare themselves to the overall economic standing of the general public. The emotional stress involved with being notably lower than the average person could lead to crime against both the poor and the