Description:
This article examines the relationship between aggregate measures of family structure and homicide victimization rates of infants and children in 17 developed nations since 1965. The results indicate that infant homicide rates are higher where rates of births to teenage mothers are higher; and child homicide rates are higher where rates of illegitimacy, births to teenage mothers, and divorce are higher. Each of these relationships is conditioned, however, by the level of government spending on social programs: family characteristics as well as female labor force participation are most strongly associated with higher risks to children in nations with less generous social spending.