Running head: CORRELATION OF UNEMPLOYED POOR FILIPINOS AND CRIME CASES

Correlation of Prevalence of Poor Unemployed Population and the Volume of Crime Cases in the Philippines Tyrone Reden L. Sy Ateneo de Manila University

CORRELATION OF UNEMPLOYED POOR FILIPINOS AND CRIME CASES

Abstract This study aimed to investigate whether the magnitude of poor unemployed Filipinos is correlated to the volume of crime cases across Philippine regions. Archival research techniques were used to gather secondary data from the websites of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management website of the Philippine National Police, and the National Statistical Coordination Board. Analysis reveals that there is no significant correlation between the magnitude of poor Filipinos and the volume of crime cases. However, a moderately strong and direct significant correlation existed when the magnitude of poor unemployed Filipinos and the volume of crime cases were correlated. The findings are in support of Mertons and Agnews Strain theories. Keywords: criminal behavior, unemployment, poverty, strain theory

CORRELATION OF UNEMPLOYED POOR FILIPINOS AND CRIME CASES

Correlation of Prevalence of Poor Unemployed Population and the Volume of Crime Cases in the Philippines The etiology of criminal behavior is varied. Psychologists would often emphasize personality variables. For example, they usually emphasize how an individuals faulty personality, either because he is born with one through genetics, or he has been raised in a dysfunctional social environment, leads him to commit acts which are usually against the moral and legal norms of a society. In contrast, social psychology and sociology have pointed to the environment as a stronger determinant of criminal behavior. One such theory is that of Robert Mertons Strain Theory (1956, 1968 as cited in Henslin, 2010). According to this theory, society has cultural goals (e.g. get rich) and legitimate ways to achieve those goals (e.g. go to college and work hard). At times, however, people find that their way to achieve those cultural goals is blocked (e.g. they have no money to go to afford college tuition fees, they cannot find a job that fits them), hence they feel strained. When people feel strained, they may resort to other means to achieve those goals and one of these means is through criminal behavior. Mertons assumptions have been augmented by Agnew (1992 as cited in Paternoster & Mazerolle, 1994). For Agnew (1992), it is not only the strain that is caused by discrepancy between our goals and the means to achieve those goals that causes criminal behavior. He contends that for a person to commit criminal behavior a key mediating variable is that a person must have negative affect, that is, he must feel angry, disappointed and frustrated to the extent that the person will use crime and delinquent behavior as solution to his negative affect. In the Philippines, Mertons and Agnews Strain Theories are indispensable especially in analysis of the prevalence of poverty in relation to crime. In 2008, it is estimated that 23 million

CORRELATION OF UNEMPLOYED POOR FILIPINOS AND CRIME CASES

Filipinos (27% of Philippine population) are living below the Asia-Pacific poverty line of about $1.35 a day (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080827-157167/23million-Filipinos-living-below-Asia-Pacific-poverty-line retrieved January 25, 2013). An SWS survey conducted in September 2011 found that 52% of Filipino respondents rated themselves as poor (http://www.sws.org.ph/ retrieved January 25, 2013). In a separate survey, the SWS also found that 18.0% of respondents were moderately hungry (the families experienced hunger and not have anything to eat only once + a few times) while 3.5% were severely hungry (the families experienced hunger and not have anything to eat only often + always). The poverty and hunger experienced by Filipinos are compounded by the fact that almost 6.9% of Filipinos are currently unemployed and 19.3% are underemployed as of April 2012 (http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/ d_labor.asp retrieved January 25, 2013). On the assumptions of Merton and Agnews Strain Theory, it can be said that Filipino will experience strain given that a significant number are below the poverty line. Unable to fully satisfy their needs because most are underemployed or even unemployed (their way to achieve the cultural goal of being able to eat at least thrice a day is blocked), there would be an increase in the prevalence of crimes in the Philippines. But is this really the case? This correlational study will thus provide quantitative evidence to determine whether there is an association between the prevalence of Poor Unemployed Population and the Number of Crime Cases across the 17 regions of the Philippines. Methods Archival research was utilized to gather secondary data. Crime statistics across regions of the Philippines were retrieved from the databases of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management website of the Philippine National Police (http://didm.pnp.gov.ph/

CORRELATION OF UNEMPLOYED POOR FILIPINOS AND CRIME CASES

Statistics/2010/Crime%20Statistics%202010.pdf retrieved January 25, 2013) whereas statistics on the prevalence of poor population were downloaded from the National Statistical Coordination Board website (http://www.nscb.gov.ph/poverty/2009/tables_basic.asp retrieved January 25, 2013). All data were encoded and analyzed using the IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (IBM SPSS) version 20. Results Statistical data on the magnitude of poor population across the regions of the Philippines for 2009 was first correlated with statistics on total crime volume for 2009. Analysis reveals no significant correlation between the two variables (r = .21, p > 0.05). However, a moderately strong and direct significant correlation was found when the magnitude of poor unemployed population was correlated with total crime volume (r = .57, p < 0.05). Table 1 Pearsons Product Moment Correlations between Volume of Crime, Magnitude of Poor Population and Magnitude of Poor Unemployed Population across Philippine Regions (N=17)
Magnitude of Poor Population Magnitude of Poor Unemployed Population

Total Volume of Crime

Total Volume of Crime Magnitude of Poor Population Magnitude of Poor Unemployed Population
Note: *p < .05,

.21 .57*

1 .68* 1

Discussion The findings of this study indicates that in the Philippines, the number of people living in poverty is not related to the prevalence of crime. What is significantly correlated to crime

CORRELATION OF UNEMPLOYED POOR FILIPINOS AND CRIME CASES

however, is the number of poor unemployed population. Analysis indicates that the greater the number of poor people who are unemployed, the higher the prevalence of crimes reported. It is interesting to note that when the magnitude of poor population is correlated with crime rate per region, no significant correlation exists. However when we take into account the unemployment status of the poor, the correlation between criminal behavior and poverty becomes significant and directly proportional. It can be inferred from this that the etymology of the crime in the Philippines results not only from mere poverty but also from not having the opportunity to respond and rise from their poverty (e.g. being unemployed). The results of this study therefore give support to the assumptions of Mertons and Agnews Strain Theories. Undergoing strain, frustration and disappointment because of lack of financial security, some of the unemployed Filipino poor may have resorted to engaging in criminal behavior as instruments in order to survive from day-to-day. Given this researchs findings, governmental policies should thus be aimed not only at eliminating poverty but also at empowering the poor by giving them employment opportunities. Caution must be exercised however when interpreting the findings of this study. First, this study is limited by the availability of crime and poverty data per region. The statistics provided by the Philippine National Database only enumerated total crime volume per region hence limiting the total number of cases to 17. Future studies should thus address this logistical limitation and attempt to further segment data by city-level or even by barangay for more accurate results. Most importantly, as inherent in most survey designs, crime and poverty data analyzed in this study may have contained some sampling errors. For one, underreporting of crimes and poverty levels is very prevalent in the Philippines. In this regard, a national study

CORRELATION OF UNEMPLOYED POOR FILIPINOS AND CRIME CASES

should be conducted to determine the prevalence of crime and conditions of crimes at the local level. References Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a General Strain Theory of Crime and Delinquency. Criminology, 47-87. Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://didm.pnp.gov.ph/Statistics/2009/Crime%20Statistics%202009.pdf Dumlao, D. (2008, August 27). Inquirer Global Nation. Retrieved from http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080827-157167/23-millionFilipinos-living-below-Asia-Pacific-poverty-line Henslin, J. (2012). Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. Boston: Pearson Higher Education. Merton, R. (1956). The Socio-Cultural Environment and Anomie. In H. Witmer, & R. Kotinsky, New Perspectives for Research on Juvenile Delinquency (pp. 24-50). Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Merton, R. (1968). Social Theory and Social Structure. Glencoe, Illinois: Free Press. National Statistical Coordination Board. (n.d.). Labor and Employment. Retrieved from http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_labor.asp National Statistical Coordination Board. (n.d.). Philippine Poverty Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.nscb.gov.ph/poverty/2009/tables_basic.asp Paternoster, R., & Mazerolle, P. (1994). General Strain Thoery and Delinquency: A Replication and Extension. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 235-263. Social Weather Station. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sws.org.ph/