Understanding Global and Regional Homicide Variations: From Education to Governance.

Abstract Existing research on the causes of homicide often yields contradictory results, with limited studies focusing on regional contexts. While many analyses are cross-national at the global level, regional studies remain scarce despite critiques highlighting their significance. This study aims to address these gaps by analyzing factors influencing homicide rates globally and regionally, with a focus on the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. We utilize panel regression analysis on a dataset spanning from 2012 to 2021, including variables such as inequality, unemployment, educational attainment, poverty, urbanization, government effectiveness, and corruption. The findings reveal that educational attainment and government effectiveness are significant determinants of homicide rates, particularly in the Americas, while corruption, poverty, and unemployment exert minimal influence. These results underscore the critical role of institutional effectiveness and education in mitigating violence and highlight the need for region-specific policy interventions. Word count: 8,299