Consider the fact that living standards are higher in Mexican cities than in poor rural Mexican villages yet crime (and the misbehaviour of children which is what we were originally talking about) is much higher in the cities. Why is that? Perhaps social and familial instability, stress due to more crowded, noisy conditions in the cities, but it's certainly not due to a lower living standard.

The true causes of misbehaviour, delinquancy and criminality are far more social than economic.

Another example - why do conservative Muslim societies have such low crime rates, regardless of the level of what we would call poverty (I'm speaking of ordinary criminality not political or religious inspired violence of course) The reason is because despite other obvious shortcomings (i.e. lack of freedom) these Muslim societies live largely in accordance with rigid social and moral codes of conduct that successfully inhibit criminal behaviour - despite poverty.

The trick is in being civilized enough to obey the laws yet enjoying as much freedom as possible.