Poverty, Inequality, and Crime Rates in Chicago

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and crime rates across Chicago’s neighborhoods using multiple regression analysis. Drawing on Social Disorganization Theory, Relative Deprivation Theory, and supporting empirical research, the analysis tests six hypotheses related to poverty, unemployment, education, residential crowding, demographic composition, and a composite Hardship Index. The results identify the Hardship Index as a significant predictor of crime, reinforcing the argument that broader structural disadvantage undermines informal social control. In contrast, traditional predictors such as poverty, unemployment, and educational attainment did not show statistically significant associations. Additionally, neighborhoods with larger dependent populations (children and the elderly) exhibited lower crime rates, suggesting the protective role of demographic composition. This evidence demonstrates that urban crime is context-dependent and reinforces the value of multidimensional approaches to neighborhood-level criminological analysis.