Nov 29, 2024
Crime rates in Canada growing faster than in the United States
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/crime-rates-canada-growing-faster-united-statesBy: Livio Di Matteo
Here in Canada, with our mantra of “Peace, order and good government,” we view our country as a peaceable kingdom marked by less crime than our American cousins with their declaration of “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Much of our self-assurance is because, as noted in a new study published by the Fraser Institute, homicides rates (adjusted for population) have always been higher in the United States compared to Canada.
But while homicide rates in both countries declined from the 1990s until 2014, by 2022 (the latest year of available comparable data) both countries had higher homicide rates than they did in 2000. Here’s why. In Canada, from 2014 to 2022, the homicide rate per 100,000 population increased from 1.5 to 2.3—an increase of nearly 53 per cent. Over the same period, the U.S. homicide rate per 100,000 increased from 3.9 to 5.8—an increase of 49 per cent. So while Canadian homicide rates remain lower than in the U.S., the Canadian rate has increased at a higher rate since 2014.
Meanwhile, during that same nine-year period, the violent crime rate (murder, robbery, assault with a weapon, etc.) in the U.S. increased by 5 per cent compared to 44 per cent in Canada.
What about property crime?
Many Canadians might also be surprised to learn that from the late 1980s to 2008, Canadian property crime rates (burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft) were generally higher than in the U.S. Our rates fell below the U.S. for a brief period between 2008 and 2015 but have once again soared above U.S. rates. And while our property crime rates have increased, U.S. rates have continued to decline. Specifically, from 2014 to 2022, property crimes per 100,000 fell by 24 per cent in the U.S. while Canadian rates increased by 7 per cent.
Clearly, when it comes to crime, the current picture in Canada is not pretty. We’ve seen larger increases in violent crime and property crime rates than the U.S., a country synonymous in popular culture with violence and crime. These stats should challenge our notion that Canada has less crime than our southern neighbours.
Of course, there are always caveats to these comparisons given the regional differences both within and across the two countries. There are also issues with the comparability of crime rate data between the two countries due to the differing definitions of crimes and crime classifications (the study has sought to adjust for these differences). However, all things given, since 2014, Canadian crime rates have been increasing faster than American rates.
That alone should be food for thought, especially for policymakers tasked with understanding the reason for the increase and the best way to reverse these trends.
2024年11月29日
加拿大犯罪率增長速度超過美國
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/crime-rates-canada-growing-faster-united-states
作者：Livio Di Matteo
在加拿大，我們秉持“和平、秩序和良政”的理念，將自己的國家視為一個和平的王國，犯罪率遠低於我們宣揚“生命、自由和追求幸福”的美國表親。我們之所以如此自信，很大程度上是因為，正如弗雷澤研究所發布的一項新研究指出的那樣，美國的凶殺案發生率（根據人口調整後）一直高於加拿大。
盡管兩國的凶殺案發生率從20世紀90年代到2014年均有所下降，但到2022年（可獲得可比數據的最新年份），兩國的凶殺案發生率都高於2000年。原因如下。在加拿大，從2014年到2022年，每十萬人的凶殺率從1.5上升到2.3，增幅近53%。同期，美國每十萬人的凶殺率從3.9上升到5.8，增幅49%。因此，盡管加拿大的凶殺率仍然低於美國，但自2014年以來，加拿大的凶殺率上升幅度更大。
與此同時，在同一九年期間，美國的暴力犯罪率（謀殺、搶劫、持械襲擊等）??上升了5%，而加拿大為44%。
暴力犯罪信息圖
財產犯罪呢？
許多加拿大人或許會驚訝地發現，從20世紀80年代末到2008年，加拿大的財產犯罪率（入室盜竊、偷竊、機動車盜竊）普遍高於美國。在2008年至2015年期間，加拿大的犯罪率曾短暫低於美國，但之後又再次飆升至高於美國。盡管加拿大的財產犯罪率有所上升，但美國的犯罪率卻持續下降。具體而言，從2014年到2022年，美國每十萬人的財產犯罪率下降了24%，而加拿大的犯罪率卻上升了7%。
財產犯罪信息圖
顯然，就犯罪而言，加拿大目前的狀況不容樂觀。暴力犯罪和財產犯罪率的增幅都超過了美國，而美國在流行文化中是暴力和犯罪的代名詞。這些數據應該會挑戰我們之前認為加拿大犯罪率低於我們南方鄰國的觀念。
當然，鑒於兩國內部和跨地區的差異，這些比較總是存在一些需要注意的地方。由於對犯罪的定義和分類不同（本研究已努力調整這些差異），兩國犯罪率數據的可比性也存在問題。然而，綜合考慮所有因素，自2014年以來，加拿大犯罪率的增長速度一直快於美國。
僅憑這一點就值得深思，尤其是對於那些負責了解犯罪率上升原因以及扭轉這一趨勢的最佳方法的政策製定者而言。
Meanwhile, during that same nine-year period, the violent crime rate (murder, robbery, assault with a weapon, etc.) in the U.S. increased by 5 per cent compared to 44 per cent in Canada.
What about property crime?
Many Canadians might also be surprised to learn that from the late 1980s to 2008, Canadian property crime rates (burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft) were generally higher than in the U.S. Our rates fell below the U.S. for a brief period between 2008 and 2015 but have once again soared above U.S. rates. And while our property crime rates have increased, U.S. rates have continued to decline. Specifically, from 2014 to 2022, property crimes per 100,000 fell by 24 per cent in the U.S. while Canadian rates increased by 7 per cent.
Clearly, when it comes to crime, the current picture in Canada is not pretty. We’ve seen larger increases in violent crime and property crime rates than the U.S., a country synonymous in popular culture with violence and crime. These stats should challenge our notion that Canada has less crime than our southern neighbours.
Of course, there are always caveats to these comparisons given the regional differences both within and across the two countries. There are also issues with the comparability of crime rate data between the two countries due to the differing definitions of crimes and crime classifications (the study has sought to adjust for these differences). However, all things given, since 2014, Canadian crime rates have been increasing faster than American rates.
That alone should be food for thought, especially for policymakers tasked with understanding the reason for the increase and the best way to reverse these trends.
2024年11月29日
加拿大犯罪率增長速度超過美國
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/commentary/crime-rates-canada-growing-faster-united-states
作者：Livio Di Matteo
在加拿大，我們秉持“和平、秩序和良政”的理念，將自己的國家視為一個和平的王國，犯罪率遠低於我們宣揚“生命、自由和追求幸福”的美國表親。我們之所以如此自信，很大程度上是因為，正如弗雷澤研究所發布的一項新研究指出的那樣，美國的凶殺案發生率（根據人口調整後）一直高於加拿大。
盡管兩國的凶殺案發生率從20世紀90年代到2014年均有所下降，但到2022年（可獲得可比數據的最新年份），兩國的凶殺案發生率都高於2000年。原因如下。在加拿大，從2014年到2022年，每十萬人的凶殺率從1.5上升到2.3，增幅近53%。同期，美國每十萬人的凶殺率從3.9上升到5.8，增幅49%。因此，盡管加拿大的凶殺率仍然低於美國，但自2014年以來，加拿大的凶殺率上升幅度更大。
與此同時，在同一九年期間，美國的暴力犯罪率（謀殺、搶劫、持械襲擊等）??上升了5%，而加拿大為44%。
暴力犯罪信息圖
財產犯罪呢？
許多加拿大人或許會驚訝地發現，從20世紀80年代末到2008年，加拿大的財產犯罪率（入室盜竊、偷竊、機動車盜竊）普遍高於美國。在2008年至2015年期間，加拿大的犯罪率曾短暫低於美國，但之後又再次飆升至高於美國。盡管加拿大的財產犯罪率有所上升，但美國的犯罪率卻持續下降。具體而言，從2014年到2022年，美國每十萬人的財產犯罪率下降了24%，而加拿大的犯罪率卻上升了7%。
財產犯罪信息圖
顯然，就犯罪而言，加拿大目前的狀況不容樂觀。暴力犯罪和財產犯罪率的增幅都超過了美國，而美國在流行文化中是暴力和犯罪的代名詞。這些數據應該會挑戰我們之前認為加拿大犯罪率低於我們南方鄰國的觀念。
當然，鑒於兩國內部和跨地區的差異，這些比較總是存在一些需要注意的地方。由於對犯罪的定義和分類不同（本研究已努力調整這些差異），兩國犯罪率數據的可比性也存在問題。然而，綜合考慮所有因素，自2014年以來，加拿大犯罪率的增長速度一直快於美國。
僅憑這一點就值得深思，尤其是對於那些負責了解犯罪率上升原因以及扭轉這一趨勢的最佳方法的政策製定者而言。
