Crime Poverty Population and Economy in Southeast Asia: Do Economic Factors Trigger Crime?

English

Abstract

This study's goal is to look into the factors that lead to crime in Southeast Asia. This study focuses on three factors, namely population productivity as reflected in GDP growth, population growth, and poverty levels. This study uses panel data analysis with three choices of models, namely Pooled Least Square (PLS) or Fixed Effect Model (FEM) or Random Effect Model (REM). The World Bank and World Population Review provide secondary data for this study, which covers the years 2000 to 2020. The findings of this study show that Southeast Asia's crime rates have decreased as a result of economic growth. Increased economic productivity raises people's quality of life and creates employment possibilities. However, an increase in the population actually encourages an increase in crime. It can be rationalized that the denser the population, the more competition in economic activity which has an impact on the potential for criminal acts. However, increasing poverty is a factor driving crime rates in Southeast Asia. This is a serious concern because the problem of poverty can lead to crime problems in Southeast Asia.