International comparisons of crime rates

 Okay, since there was such a thunderous response to my presentation of the variables captured in the "crime rate," I'll just point out that neither system captures most of what we think of as white collar crime. Bernie Madoff, Bernie Ebers and Ken Lay aren't in there. Drug companies that illegally market products off label aren't in there. In fact, their crimes, and most forms of financial fraud, aren't usually treated as crimes at all. Viz. Trump University. The perpetrators sign a consent decree saying they didn't do it, they won't do it again, and they pay a fine that is substantially less than the profit they made from the fraud. 

 

Anyway, leaving all that aside, the UN does compile data on crime rates internationally. However, due to different definitions of crime, different likelihood of particular categories of crime being reported or ascertained by authorities, and varying reliability of the data collection process, comparisons are most valid for murder and armed robbery. Comparing murder rates, the U.S. ranks 10th in the world, just after Mongolia. (Jamaica, for some reason, is number one.) Remember, however, that we rank 5th in the rate of incarceration. However, for overall ascertained crime -- what the UN calls the "crime index," the U.S. is pretty average, 57th overall, comparable to Belgium and Sweden. 

 

I don't have to tell you the reason why we are so good at murder even though we don't have exceptionally much crime overall. The best way to kill someone is to use a machine designed specifically for that purpose, and we have more of them than anybody. So, these are some major caveats:

 

• “Crime” in official statistics does not generally include financial fraud, deceptive marketing or sales fraud, confidence schemes and extortion.
• Most crimes are not reported or ascertained, particularly in the above categories. Sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence are certainly underreported.

So, here are my takeaways for today.

 

 

 Next, we'll discuss the nature of the "crime" problem and what to do about it.