A Look at the Relationship Between Income Inequality and Public Violence

Income inequality has been studied for years (Kwon & Cabrera, 2019). Through these studies, income inequality has been linked to many social problems such as higher crime rates. Kwon and Cabrera (2019) noticed while the relationship between crime rates and income has been researched, there was very little research about income inequality and specific types of public violence. Further inquiry into types of public violence found the number of mass shootings in the U.S. had risen significantly in the past 20 years. Kwon and Cabrera (2019) decided to further investigate the relationship between income inequality and mass shootings. With this study, they sought to find out if new increases in income inequality could be associated with the increase of mass violence and shootings (Kwon & Cabrera, 2019). Their next step was to design the study.

To begin this study, they gathered information on 3,144 U.S. counties using panel regression techniques for the years of 1990 to 2015. For the dependent variable, mass shootings, they used data from three different sources. They used two databases which draw their information from media sources, and one database which received its information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. All of the information for the independent variables, the main one being income inequality, was gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau. The authors also used some covariates when conducting this study in an effort to appease some of the common arguments that try to explain increased crime rates. Some of these covariates were unemployment rate, population density, the age of the citizens, the ethnicity of the citizens, the education level, and gun control laws. To organize the data, they first broke up the large block of years into decades. They compared the data from 1990 to 2000 and then compared from 2000 to 2010. Next, to analyze the data, they used a “random effects negative binomial regression with robust clustered standard errors”. To further check their results, they tested the information from the three different databases separately. The results showed regardless of which database they used, a rise in income inequality is positively associated with a rise in the number of mass shootings. This was found in both of the decades examined. They did another test and added in the variable of right to carry laws/assault rifle bans. This test showed similar results as the first, income inequality is positively associated with mass shootings. The state-level right to carry did not have a significant effect on the number of mass shootings (Kwon & Cabrera, 2019). The results of this clearly show income inequality is an ongoing issue in the U.S.

Kwon and Cabrera (2019) were not alone in their search for a link between income inequality and crime. Bertram Okpokwasili (2016) wanted to scale in the scope of reach for the crime. So, instead of looking at the whole country, he conducted a study on the link between income inequality and overall crime in the state of New Jersey over a 50 year period. His findings stated that, at least for the state of New Jersey, there was not a statistically significant link between income inequality and overall crime. This could be due to a lack of resources since the other study used thousands of counties across the US and the second study only used the state of New Jersey (Okpokwasili, 2016). Also, there could be a discrepancy because the studies only had access to those who pay their taxes. Those who do not pay their taxes would not be included in these studies, because their information would not be recorded in a database. Not every study disagrees with the proposed link between income inequality and crime (Akee, Jones, & Porter, 2017). A study conducted by Akee, Jones, and Porter (2017) looked at income inequality among different races over a period of years. They found there to be many instances of income inequality and, they brought up another part of income they believe might contribute to inequality. They state an increase in income inequality decreases income mobility which causes people to remain entrenched in their current economic situations (Akee et al., 2017). This point is extremely important because the Kwon and Cabrera (2019) article discussed how individuals who live in unequal environments can have altered ideas of what is fair and just. If people cannot improve their situations, they will not be able to thrive and survive in our current society. This will then create this cycle of people living paycheck to paycheck where they worry about what they are going to do if some major financial burden drops in their laps. These thoughts often develop into anger, hatred, and animosity. This can then lead to displays of violence (Kwon & Cabrera, 2019). Income mobility could be a part of the missing link between income inequality and crime. Income inequality can be linked to different aspects of crime, but the results are very contradictory.

In conclusion, Kwon and Cabrera (2019) set out to study the possible link between increased income inequality and the increase in occurrences of mass shootings. They found a positive relationship between income inequality and a rise in mass shootings. Another study supported their findings by stating income mobility also contributes to the upset that income inequality creates, which can lead to an increase in crime rates. While Kwon and Cabrera’s (2019) study did find statistical significance in support of their hypothesis, but not every study agrees. Other studies have been conducted as well, which found no statistical significance to support the relationship between income inequality and crime. Since there is so much contention between the two sides of this question, more research needs to be done to close the gap.

References

Kwon, R. & Cabrera, J. F. (2019). Income inequality and mass shootings in the United States. BMC Public Health 19, 1-8. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7490-x

Okpokwasili, B. C. I. (2016). Income inequality: Impact of inequality measures on crimes an analysis of the state of New Jersey. International Journal of Business and Social Research, 6(4), 12-27. doi:10.18533/ijbsr.v.6i4.939

Akee, R., Jones, M. R., & Porter, S. R. (2017). Income shares, income inequality, and income mobility for all U.S. races. The National Bureau of Economic Research, 56(3), 999-1021. Doi:10.3386/w23733