Fiscal and socioeconomic factors affecting criminality in Brazil

This study aims to verify the impact of fiscal and socioeconomic factors on homicide rates in Brazil and analyze whether this influence is different in states with good fiscal management. The research adopted the State Fiscal Management Indicator, which is based on the methodology of the Firjan Fiscal Management Index, to differentiate states with good financial health from those with their accounts in a critical situation. A cross-sectional multiple linear regression and panel data regression were performed using fixed and random effects methods. The findings suggest that socioeconomic factors affect state homicide rates. Also, on average, fiscal factors such as voluntary transfers and municipal spending on public security are negatively related to state homicide rates.