The Influence of National Socio-Economic Background on Victimization: A Cross-Country Analysis

This chapter investigates how national socio-economic conditions, particularly poverty, inequality, education, and institutional capacity, shape patterns of victimization across different countries and income levels. Drawing on theories such as Strain Theory and Routine Activity Theory, it explains how structural disadvantages and daily environmental risks intersect to produce varying forms of vulnerability to crime. Through a cross-national analysis encompassing high-, middle-, and low-income nations, the chapter demonstrates that economic inequality, underinvestment in education, and weak governance consistently heighten exposure to victimization. Empirical studies from the United States, Europe, South Asia, and Latin America confirm that social policies emphasizing equitable education access, targeted welfare programs, and redistributive reforms significantly reduce crime and improve victim outcomes. Conversely, contexts marked by economic growth without equity, such as urban peripheries in developing nations or marginalized neighborhoods in wealthy countries, show persistent cycles of crime and insecurity. The chapter concludes that effective crime prevention and victim protection must be rooted in inclusive economic development, robust welfare systems, and institutional trust. By situating victimization within broader socio-economic and political frameworks, this analysis underscores that social justice and crime reduction are fundamentally interconnected goals in building safe and equitable societies.