The work determines if the economic recession in Nigeria has any influence on criminal behaviour amongst youths. The specific objectives of this research are to identify the causes of recession, to determine the social implications of economic recession on the society, to ascertain the increase in the level of crime amongst youths in economic recession and to ascertain the patterns of crime committed by youths in periods of economic downturn.
The author examines the influence the downturn of the economic had on the criminal behaviour among youths, most especially those based in Benin City, Edo State Nigeria. Therefore, data from pre-economic recession to post-economic period recession has been analysed. A combination of a longitudinal and cross sectional study survey was used in order to gather the needed data from subjects, newspapers and crime statistics.
The author discovered that the fall in the price of crude oil and poor economic policy were the major causes of economic recession in the period. During this period there were closure of businesses resulting from low patronage and high cost of doing business in the country. There was a high rate of unemployment which resulted tin social instability and youth restiveness in the state.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
SCOPE OF STUDY
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
MEANING AND NATURE OF RECESSION
ECONOMIC RECESSION: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
REASONS WHY RECESSIONS OCCUR
CAUSES OF RECESSION IN NIGERIA
IMPLICATIONS OF ECONOMIC RECESSION ON THE SOCIETY
YOUTHS AND CRIMES
UNPACKING THE CATEGORY ‘YOUTH’
Impacts of Crisis on Young People’s Access to Decent Employment
How Young People Cope with Employment Shocks
Causes of increasing youth crime
PATTERNS OF CRIMES BY YOUTH DURING ECONOMIC CRISIS
Theoretical framework
RESEARCH QUESTION
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
RESEARCH DESIGN
STUDY AREA
Population of the study
SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING PROCEDURE
SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION
METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS FROM THE STUDY
CAUSES OF ECONOMIC RECESSION
SOCIAL-IMPLICATIONS OF ECONOMIC RECESSION
PATTERNS OF CRIME DURING RECESSION
INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF CRIME
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, FINDINGS, DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
DISCUSSION OF FIINDINGS
CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
The primary objective of this study is to determine whether the economic recession in Nigeria has significantly influenced criminal behavior among youths in the Benin Metropolis. The research investigates the causal link between economic downturns, unemployment, and the rate of specific crimes, while also examining how young people navigate employment shocks.
- Analysis of the relationship between economic recession and youth criminal behavior.
- Investigation of social implications of economic recession on the society.
- Identification of factors causing economic recession in Nigeria, such as non-diversification and oil price volatility.
- Evaluation of crime patterns and frequency during pre-recession versus post-recession periods.
- Exploration of coping strategies employed by youths in the face of unemployment and economic hardship.
Excerpt from the Book
CAUSES OF RECESSION IN NIGERIA
In the case of Nigeria, when there is economic slowdown in the U.S., China, India and EU, it could have negative impact on the demand of Nigerian crude oil from these countries. As a result, government’s revenue and spending would drop, taxes will rise, disposable income will fall and aggregate demand will fall, adversely impacting the production of goods and services. These developments would culminate in economic recession. Also, a crash in asset prices as was the case during the GFC, credit crunch, where financial institutions reduced the amount of credit to support production could occur. Another source of negative demand shocks could be sharp appreciation of the domestic currency, which encourages import and discourage export of goods and services, and causes disequilibrium in balance of trade and deterioration in the balance of payments position. Supply side shocks causes of recession result mainly from general increases in commodity prices such as crude oil, metals and other non-fuel inputs, foodstuff prices, etc. These factors are inflationary in nature. Inflation, which is the persistent rise in prices of goods and services, results because of high cost of inputs, which are usually transferred to the final consumers who can only afford less quantity because of higher prices. This lowers demand for goods and services, and reduces the standard of living, and ultimately depresses production of goods and services by firms. The macroeconomic policies work more or less like the internal factors discussed above. Here, when monetary and fiscal policies are not well coordinated it results to recession. During contracting growth or economic slowdown, taxes ought to be lowered, and government also ought to spend more to stimulate the economy. On the other hand, monetary authority ought to encourage borrowing by households and businesses by lowering interest rate. However, when the above policy mixes are not properly synchronized, it could further stifle the economy. Macroeconomic policies need to be complementary to achieve the desired result (CBN, 2012).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: This chapter introduces the study, outlines the problem statement regarding crime and economic downturn, and defines the research objectives and scope.
CHAPTER TWO: Provides a literature review on the nature of economic recessions, historical perspectives, and theoretical frameworks linking economic instability to criminal behavior.
CHAPTER THREE: Details the research methodology, including the design, study area, data collection sources (interviews and secondary statistics), and analysis methods used.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents and discusses the research findings regarding the causes of recession, social implications, and crime patterns based on newspaper and police data.
CHAPTER FIVE: Offers a summary of the entire study, draws conclusions based on the findings, and provides recommendations for policy and intervention.
Keywords
Economic Recession, Criminal Behaviour, Youths, Benin Metropolis, Nigeria, Unemployment, Anomie Theory, Social Instability, Crime Patterns, Youth Restiveness, Economic Policy, Kidnapping, Murder, Attempted Murder, Sustainable Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The research examines the impact of the economic recession in Nigeria on criminal behavior, specifically focusing on the youth population in Benin Metropolis.
What are the core themes addressed in this study?
The core themes include the causes of economic recession, its social implications, the correlation between economic shocks and unemployment, and the resulting patterns of criminal activity among youths.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to determine if a significant influence exists between economic recession and the increase in criminal behavior among youths in Benin City.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The study utilized a combination of longitudinal and cross-sectional survey designs, content analysis of major national newspapers, and inferential statistics based on crime records.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers a thorough literature review, a detailed methodology, the presentation of data regarding economic recession causes, and a discussion on social implications and crime statistics.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Economic Recession, Youth Crime, Nigeria, Unemployment, Benin Metropolis, and Anomie Theory.
How does the author define the 'youth' demographic?
The study adopts the definition of youth covering individuals aged 15 to 35, acknowledging this as a broad spectrum that includes both dependents and autonomous adults.
What specific crimes showed an increase during the recession?
Based on the analysis of police data for the period studied, the study identified an increase in kidnapping, murder, and attempted murder.
What is the role of the 'anomie theory' in this research?
The anomie theory is used as the theoretical framework to explain how economic upheaval creates a gap between societal goals and the means to achieve them, which leads to increased criminal activity.
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- Davies Ugowe (Autor:in), 2017, The impact of economic recession on adolescent criminality in Nigeria, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/511296
