The impact of welfare on crime reduction

Purpose: The article revisits the negative effect of welfare state schemes on crime rates with a focus on the pathways of that effect. Social support theory (SST) and institutional anomie theory (IAT) are two related theoretical approaches to explain why – and how – the welfare state might prevent criminal behavior. This article tests the relevance of these theories for cross-country and over-time variation in homicide rates with more precise disaggregated welfare state indicators than used previously.Methods: We use panel regressions with country fixed effects and data for ۱۸ OECD countries between ۱۹۹۰ and ۲۰۱۱. Disaggregated cross-national social expenditure and benefit generosity data is used to discriminate between pathways of welfare state influence on cross-national homicide. Results: The welfare state suppresses crime particularly through social support via generous unemployment benefits. Overall decommodification, the key measure to test IAT, however, does not have any effect on homicide.Conclusions: Only some welfare state interventions matter for homicide rates.

Keywords:

Welfare , Crime , Homicide , Social support theory , Institutional anomie theory.