Gini Coefficient
Definition
A measure of income inequality ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (one person holds all income). Consistently one of the strongest cross-national predictors of homicide rates in comparative criminology research.
- Range
- 0 (equality) to 1 (total inequality)
- Field origin
- Economics, applied in criminology
- Criminological use
- Cross-national homicide-rate predictor
- Related field
- Comparative, macro-level criminology
Common questions
Why does income inequality correlate with homicide rates across countries?+
Researchers commonly attribute it to relative deprivation, status frustration, and weakened social cohesion in highly unequal societies, though the correlation is well established while the precise causal mechanisms are still debated.
Does a high Gini coefficient always mean high crime in a specific country?+
No, the relationship is a statistical pattern across many nations rather than a deterministic rule, and factors such as governance quality, social welfare provision, and firearm availability also shape a country's homicide rate.
How is the Gini coefficient calculated?+
It is derived from the Lorenz curve, which plots cumulative share of income against cumulative share of population, with the coefficient measuring the area between that curve and a line of perfect equality.
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