Empirical evidence on the relationship between material deprivation and crime: an analysis of the case of Spain

Abstract

Severe material deprivation affects approximately 3 million people in Spain, having experienced a significant increase after the economic crisis of 2008. This phenomenon is relevant in the context of the economic approach to crime, as it is considered to have a positive impact on the incidence of delinquency. Despite the social magnitude of this problem, the majority of international research has overlooked the non-monetary dimensions of inequality, focusing almost exclusively on income inequality. This study aims to fill this gap by examining how material deprivation influences delinquency in the specific case of Spain. To do so, an indicator representing material deprivation is used, and a differences-GMM estimator is employed for 16 Spanish regions covering the period 2013-2019. The results indicate that in Spain, material inequality is a criminogenic factor that should be taken into account, particularly when it approaches the threshold of severe material deprivation. Furthermore, it is found that both improvements in economic conditions and deterrent public policies are key factors in reducing criminality.