One might also bring up the difference between the criminality of Ireland, which is smaller despite the proverbial poverty there, and the great criminality of Italy. However, when we study conditions in the two countries we find that those in Italy are still more undesirable than those in Ireland, which explains the greater criminality against property in Italy. The mysterious assassinations of large landholders and their agents in Ireland have also their cause in the bad distribution of the land. In Belgium criminality is greatest where well-being is least (in Flanders). According to the researches of Liszt and Starcke, the poorest districts of Germany are also those that are most criminal, etc. Upon the economic condition of criminals the author gives the following data: In 1870–71 there were among the prisoners at Neufchâtel 10% who had some property, and 89% who had only their work for their support (in the non-criminal population the percentage of these is much smaller). According to the data of Stevens the prisoners in Belgium were divided as follows: 1% of well-to-do persons, 11% of persons with some income, and 88% of indigent persons. The statistics of recidivists in Sweden from 1870 to 1872 give the following information: Well-to-do 0.64 % With sufficient means of subsistence 10.08 ,, ,, insufficient ,, ,, ,, 43.54 ,, ,, miserable ,, ,, ,, 45.63 ,, Marro, in his “I caratteri dei delinquenti”, gives us the following: =====================================+============+================ | Criminals. | Non-criminals. -------------------------------------+------------+---------------- Without property | 79.6 % | 43.4 % Minor children of well-to-do parents | 4.1 ,, | 10.5 ,, With a little property | 6.7 ,, | 18.4 ,, With considerable property | 9.4 ,, | 27.6 ,, =====================================+============+================ At the time that they committed their crimes 43% of these criminals in general, and more than 50% of the criminals against property were without work. All that has been given above has to do with statics; what follows has to do with dynamics. The rule universally observed is this: modifications in economic conditions are followed by modifications in criminality. When the former grow worse, the number of crimes (and especially of those against property) increases, and vice versa. It is especially the proletariat, who have no means of resisting the unfavorable influence of crises, a rise in the price of food, etc., who are hardest hit in these cases.