Despite representing just 8% of the world’s population, the region accounts for nearly one-third of global homicides.

Breaking Latin America’s Cycle of Low Growth and Violence

North and Sub-Saharran Africa are poorer than Latin America but have much less murder going on. What’s going on in Latin America?

  • porcoesphino@mander.xyz
    10·
    11 hours ago

    Your linked article says this:

    macroeconomic instability often fuels spikes in violence: a recession in LAC is associated with a 6 percent increase in homicides the following year, while inflation spikes above 10 percent are linked to a 10 percent rise in homicides the year after. Growing inequality further exacerbates the link between economic stagnation and crime.

    sound economic policy plays a preventive role. Stability, low inflation, robust social safety nets, and opportunities that reduce inequality and expand access to education and employment are critical to breaking the cycle of violence and stagnation. Financial authorities are also uniquely positioned to weaken criminal networks by addressing illicit markets, curtailing financial flows, and tackling money laundering—cutting off resources that sustain organized crime.

    because the impact of crime extends far beyond direct economic costs, economic policymakers must adopt a broader role by targeting high-risk groups, improving crime monitoring, and enhancing interagency coordination.

    In Rosario province, Argentina implemented a comprehensive strategy to combat crime, including territorial control of high-risk neighborhoods by the Federal Police, stricter prison systems for high-profile offenders, and collective prosecution of criminal groups under new legislation like the anti-mafia law. These efforts, alongside progress on a juvenile penal code to deter drug traffickers from recruiting minors, have led to 65% reduction homicides in 11 months. In Honduras, strategic security reforms contributed to a 14% decline in the homicide rate and an 8% increase in public confidence in law enforcement.

    • atro_city@fedia.ioOP
      2·
      10 hours ago

      Those are relative explanations as in relative to the region. Compare it to Africa where the crime rate and murder rate is quite different despite there being active wars on the continent. Violence is of course present but not at the same level as in South America.

      • LeapSecond@lemmy.zip
        7·
        10 hours ago

        This is entirely speculation but the fact that there are active wars in the continent might affect how the data is classified. I don’t know how the article you posted defines homicide. There are some rules here https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/statistics/iccs.html and it seems that deaths during war conflicts might not be counted as intentional homicides. Latin America hasn’t had many wars but had/has many conflicts involving guerrillas, cartels and political groups. Is it possible that many of the resulting deaths are counted as homicides whereas similar violence in Africa is counted as, for example, civil war deaths?

      • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
        5·
        10 hours ago

        macroeconomic instability often fuels spikes in violence: a recession in LAC is associated with a 6 percent increase in homicides the following year, while inflation spikes above 10 percent are linked to a 10 percent rise in homicides the year after. Growing inequality further exacerbates the link between economic stagnation and crime.

        if things are static in africa, then the base level of violence may be maintained, wheras increases in factors can lead to increases in violence.