Work

Crime and economic activity. A panel data approach

Year: 1999

Type: article

Abstract: We use aggregate data from 42 police force areas to examine the relationship between economic factors and property crime. The change in unemployment is seen to impact positively on four types of criminal activity examined. A widening of the distribution of weekly earnings of full-time manual men (a measure of wage inequality) and increases in cars per capita (a measure of the availability of thievable property) lead to increases in crime. We also find evidence that increases in the size of the police force reduce property crime.

Source: The British Journal of Criminology

DOI: 10.1093/bjc/39.3.391

Author: R Witt

Institution: University of Surrey

Language: English

Topic: Crime Patterns and Interventions

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2090126673

FWCI: 11.39

Cites: 14

Cited by: 94

Related to: 10