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Impact of urban economic resilience on crime rate: Empirical evidence from China judgments online data

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study uses panel data from Chinese prefecture-level cities spanning 2010 to 2021 and employs court judgment documents to examine how urban economic resilience affects crime rates. It explores three channels—residents’ consumption, industrial structure optimization, and improvements in living standards—to assess how resilience reduces the annual growth rates of offenders and criminal cases. The results indicate that higher economic resilience significantly lowers both growth rates, confirming its crime prevention benefits. By boosting consumption, optimizing industry, and enhancing living conditions, economic resilience supplies effective economic and social support to curb criminal activity. These findings deepen our understanding of the role of urban economic resilience in social governance and crime prevention and provide local governments with practical guidance for policies to strengthen resilience and improve governance.

Source: International Review of Economics & Finance

DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2025.104792

Authors: Yan Zhang, Cheng-To Lin

Institutions: Henan University of Economic and Law, Renmin University of China

Language: English

Topic: Crime Patterns and Interventions

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Sustainable cities and communities, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930