One can endure bad governance, unemployment and inflation but when it comes to hunger one can engage in diverse criminal act just to survive. Out of the numerous factors that can push people into criminal acts hunger has the highest reasons.
I think it depends on what type of criminal activity, most likely poverty will lead to stealing, robbery, environmental destruction, or something related to the means of making money or for survival.
However, for murder and genocide which are more serious than just theft. These are driven mostly because of ideological beliefs and/or racism.