Abstract
This article draws from an ongoing debate over explanations of homicide. Within this debate, we investigate the pro-social effects of civil society and social capital. Few cross-national studies explore whether elements of social capital either increase or decrease homicide. The cross-national work that does is often characterized by small, homogeneous samples and the use of inappropriate statistical techniques. Replicating elements of Lederman et al's (Econ Dev Cult Change 50:509-539, 2002) original study but with wave IV World Values Survey data and negative binomial regression, we find weak support for the beneficial consequences of social capital on homicide. One dimension of social capital, however, does exhibit a significant negative association with homicide rates, net of other influences: social activism. We also fail to support the Durkheimian hypothesis that the negative effect of social capital on homicide is conditional on modernization. We explore the implications of the findings along with avenues for future research.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 519-540 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Social Indicators Research |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2012 |
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Keywords
- Cross-national homicide
- Economic development
- Social capital
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Sociology and Political Science
- Social Sciences(all)
Cite this
Social Capital, Economic Development, and Homicide : A Cross-National Investigation. / Robbins, Blaine; Pettinicchio, David.
In: Social Indicators Research, Vol. 105, No. 3, 01.02.2012, p. 519-540.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Capital, Economic Development, and Homicide
T2 - A Cross-National Investigation
AU - Robbins, Blaine
AU - Pettinicchio, David
PY - 2012/2/1
Y1 - 2012/2/1
N2 - This article draws from an ongoing debate over explanations of homicide. Within this debate, we investigate the pro-social effects of civil society and social capital. Few cross-national studies explore whether elements of social capital either increase or decrease homicide. The cross-national work that does is often characterized by small, homogeneous samples and the use of inappropriate statistical techniques. Replicating elements of Lederman et al's (Econ Dev Cult Change 50:509-539, 2002) original study but with wave IV World Values Survey data and negative binomial regression, we find weak support for the beneficial consequences of social capital on homicide. One dimension of social capital, however, does exhibit a significant negative association with homicide rates, net of other influences: social activism. We also fail to support the Durkheimian hypothesis that the negative effect of social capital on homicide is conditional on modernization. We explore the implications of the findings along with avenues for future research.
AB - This article draws from an ongoing debate over explanations of homicide. Within this debate, we investigate the pro-social effects of civil society and social capital. Few cross-national studies explore whether elements of social capital either increase or decrease homicide. The cross-national work that does is often characterized by small, homogeneous samples and the use of inappropriate statistical techniques. Replicating elements of Lederman et al's (Econ Dev Cult Change 50:509-539, 2002) original study but with wave IV World Values Survey data and negative binomial regression, we find weak support for the beneficial consequences of social capital on homicide. One dimension of social capital, however, does exhibit a significant negative association with homicide rates, net of other influences: social activism. We also fail to support the Durkheimian hypothesis that the negative effect of social capital on homicide is conditional on modernization. We explore the implications of the findings along with avenues for future research.
KW - Cross-national homicide
KW - Economic development
KW - Social capital
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855307875&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84855307875&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11205-011-9785-x
DO - 10.1007/s11205-011-9785-x
M3 - Article
VL - 105
SP - 519
EP - 540
JO - Social Indicators Research
JF - Social Indicators Research
SN - 0303-8300
IS - 3
ER -