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Homicide in Other Industrialized Countries

NCJ Number
102799
Journal
Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Volume: 62 Issue: 5 Dated: (June 1986) Pages: 400-412
Author(s)
M E Wolfgang
Date Published
1986
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Homicide rates appear to be related to national levels of whereas European countries have the lowest rates. Many approaches have been used to explain the national variations. Clinard and Abbott selectively invoke different theories. They use subcultural theory to explain homicide in Hispanic countries, for example. Archer and Garner have examined the relationships among homicide, urbanization, population size, and economic development. Their conclusion, which relates homicide directly to industrialization interacting with urbanization, is not supported by their own data or that of Nagpaul, Hansmann, and Quigley. Cross-national and longitudinal studies sometimes give different results. Longitudinal data show that homicide rates in several European nations, Japan, and the United States remained relatively stable between 1970 and 1974. It appears that nations that currently have high homicide rates and that industrialize and modernize without turmoil can expect a decline in their homicide rates. Better data sets are needed, however, as the basis for further research. Data tables, figure, and 17 references.

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