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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for unemployment and crime
26 results foundAuthor: Koinis, Gerald Title: Economic Trends and Crime: The Effects of the Declining Economy on Crime and the Criminal Justice System in North Carolina Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess how North Carolina's criminal justice system and crime rates have been affected by the economic downturn taking place in the nation and the states. Details: Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center, 2009. 31p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118617 Keywords: Criminal Justice System (North Carolina)Economics and CrimeUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Detotto, Claudio Title: Assessing Substitution and Complementary Effects Amongst Crime Typologies Summary: This paper aims at assessing how offenders allocate their effort amongst several crime typologies. Specifically, complementary and substitution effects are tested amongst number of recorded crimes. Furthermore, the extent to which crime is detrimental for economic growth is also tested. The case study is Italy and the time span under analysis is from 1981:1 up to 2004:4. A Vector Autoregressive Correction Mechanism (VECM) is employed after having assessed the integration and cointegration status of the variables under investigation. The main findings are that a bi-directional complementary effect exists between drug related crimes and receiving, whereas a bi-directional substitution effect is detected between robberies, extortions and kidnapping and homicides and falsity, respectively. Furthermore, economic growth produces a positive effect on the growth of homicides, receiving and drug related crimes; while, the growth in robberies, extortion and kidnapping and falsity have a crowding-out effect on economic growth. Details: Munich: University Library of Munich, 2010. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: MPRA Paper No. 20046; Accessed October 21, 2010 at: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/20046/1/MPRA_paper_20046.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Italy URL: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/20046/1/MPRA_paper_20046.pdf Shelf Number: 120036 Keywords: Drug Abuse and CrimeEconomics and CrimeRobberiesUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Han, Lu Title: Economic Analyses of Crime in England and Wales Summary: This thesis includes three empirical studies detecting the determinants of crime in England and Wales. We firstly apply time series analyses to look for cointegrating relationships between property crimes and unemployment as well as law enforcement instruments. We extend our study by employing panel data and corresponding techniques to control for area-specific fixed effects as well as the endogeneity of law enforcement variables. In our third study, we allow crime rate to have spatial spillover effect, in other words, the crime rate in one area is affected by, in addition to its local crime-influential factors, the crime rates and crime-related factors in its neighbouring areas. We demonstrate this result by constructing a theoretical model and testing it by applying spatial analysis regressions. Our main findings can be summarized as follows: First, property crimes are better explained by economic models of crime than violent crimes. Second, law enforcement instruments always have negative effects on both property and violent crimes, indicating their deterrence and incapacitation effects as predicted. Third, social-economic factors, such as unemployment and income level, have two effects on property crimes: opportunity and motivation. Their net effects on property crime rates depend on the type of crime as well as the time period being examined. And finally, there is indeed spillover effect existing in crime rate. For burglary, theft and handling, and robbery, the crime rate in one area is positively and significantly correlated with the crime rates from its neighbouring areas. Furthermore, the crime rate of sexual offences of one area is negatively related to such crime rates in neighbouring areas. Details: Birmingham, UK: Department of Economics, Birmingham Business School, College of Social Science, University of Birmingham, 2009. 261p. Source: Internet Resource: Doctoral Thesis: Accessed November 29, 2010 at: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/584/3/han10PhD.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/584/3/han10PhD.pdf Shelf Number: 120294 Keywords: Economics of CrimeProperty CrimeSocioeconomic StatusUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Finklea, Kristin M. Title: Economic Downturns and Crime Summary: The United States is currently in the midst of a recession that some analysts believe will be the longest-lasting economic downturn since the Great Depression. Various indicators of economic health, such as the unemployment rate and foreclosures, have reached their worst showings in decades over the past few months. The troubled state of the economy has revived the longstanding debate concerning whether economic factors can be linked to increases in the nation’s crime rates. This report examines the available research on how selected economic variables may or may not be related to crime rates. There are multiple macroeconomic indicators, such as the consumer price index or real earnings, that can serve as estimates of economic strength. Specifically, during the current economic downturn, some reference the unemployment rate and the proportion of home foreclosures as proxies for economic health. Therefore, most of the discussion in this report utilizes unemployment and foreclosure data in discussing the relationship between the economy and crime. A number of studies have analyzed the link between the unemployment rate and crime rates (with a greater focus on property crime), some theorizing that in times of economic turmoil, people may turn to illicit rather than licit means of income. However, a review by CRS found a lack of consensus concerning whether the unemployment rate has any correlation with the property crime rate. A number of studies analyzed by CRS that did find a correlation between the unemployment rate and the property crime rate generally examined time periods during which the unemployment and property crime rates moved in tandem. Conversely, some studies that used longer timehorizons tended to find no direct link between the unemployment rate and the property crime rate. The link between foreclosures and crime rates has not been reviewed as comprehensively by social scientists as other broader macroeconomic variables—namely, unemployment. Most of the literature in the field focuses on whether abandoned houses can be linked to increases in crime rather than looking at the particular role that foreclosures may play. The literature reviewed suggests that there is some correlation between abandoned houses and the property crime rate (but not, however, the violent crime rate). With respect to the relationship between foreclosures and crime rates, some of the studies found that foreclosures did have an impact on the violent crime rate (but not the property crime rate). However, the limited number of studies examining the relationship between foreclosure rates and crime rates complicates any attempt to draw firm conclusions. While much research on the relationship between economic variables and crime rates has focused on macroeconomic variables such as unemployment and home foreclosures, some research suggests that other economic variables, such as gross domestic product (GDP) or gross state product (GSP), as well as consumer sentiment, could fluctuate more closely with crime rates and could thus serve as better proxies for evaluating the relationship between the economy and crime. Policy makers continue to be concerned with potential impacts—such as increased crime — that the current economic downturn may have on the nation. As a result, some have suggested that focus should be placed on increasing the resources of state and local police departments (i.e., increasing the number of police officers). In addressing this concern, however, Congress may opt to consider whether the current downturn in the economy is in fact related to crime rates. This report will be updated as needed. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2009. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS Report 7-7500: Accessed February 18, 2011 at: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40726_20090728.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40726_20090728.pdf Shelf Number: 119619 Keywords: Economics and CrimeHousing ForeclosuresProperty CrimesUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Bagchi, Aniruddha Title: Workplace Deviance and the Business Cycle Summary: We examine the relationship between the incidence of workplace deviance (on-the-job crime) and the business cycle. A worker’s probability of future employment depends on whether she has been deviant as well as on the availability of jobs. Using a two period model we show that the net impact on deviant behaviour to changes in unemployment is ambiguous and depends on the strength of two effects. If the probability of being employed for a nondeviant improves as expected market conditions improve, then that lowers deviant behaviour, while if the deviant’s probability of being employed improves as market conditions improve, that increases deviance as market conditions improve. In either case, there is a setup cost to deviant behaviour and the attractiveness of incurring that increases with an increase in expected probability of future employment. This second effect therefore increases the incentive to be deviant and thus can reinforce the first effect or weaken it. Finally, we show that an increase in optimism i.e. the probability of facing a recession going down unambiguously increases deviant behaviour. Details: Birmingham, UK: University of Birmingham, Department of Economics, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Department of Economics Discussion Paper 11-06: Accessed May 11, 2011 at: ftp://ftp.bham.ac.uk/pub/RePEc/pdf/11-06.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 121709 Keywords: Economics and CrimeUnemployment and CrimeWorkplace CrimeWorkplace Deviance |
Author: Nunley, John M. Title: Demographic Change, Macroeconomic Conditions, and the Murder Rate: The Case of the United States, 1934 to 2006 Summary: Fluctuations in aggregate crime rates contrary to recent shifts in the age distribution of the U.S. population have cast doubt on the predictive power of the age-crime hypothesis. By examining a longer time horizon, back to the early 1930s,, we show that the percentage of the young population is a robust predictor of the observed large swings in the U.S. murder rate over time. However, changes in the misery index — the sum of the inflation and unemployment rates — significantly contribute to explaining changes in the murder rate. This applies, in particular, to those changes that are at odds with the long-run trend of the U.S. age distribution, such as the decline in the murder rate in the latter part of the 1970s or its increase starting around the middle of the 1980s. Details: Auburn, AL: Auburn University, 2010. 20p. Department of Economics, Source: Internet Resource: Auburn University Department of Economics Working Paper Series: Accessed October 22, 2011 at: http://cla.auburn.edu/econwp/Archives/2010/2010-04.pdf Year: 0 Country: United States URL: http://cla.auburn.edu/econwp/Archives/2010/2010-04.pdf Shelf Number: 123093 Keywords: Crime RatesEconomics and CrimeHomicideMurderUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Cramer, Christopher Title: Unemployment and Participation in Violence Summary: How are unemployment and violence linked? Ideas about this link are driven by an OECD literature on crime, gangs and unemployment and by recent economic models of developing country ‘civil wars’. These ideas are commonly linked with an increasing interest in the age-structure of demography in developing countries, in particular the observation of a common ‘youth bulge’. There is a very widespread view that youth unemployment is a key cause of insurgency or civil war. This is despite the fact that there is barely any reliable evidence on youth unemployment for any developing country. Running through many assumptions about the role of labour markets, and in particular unemployment, in causing violence and violent conflict, is the influence of the “economic approach” championed by Gary Becker with respect to crime and punishment initially and then by others including Jack Hirshleifer. This paper first sets out the main features of the economic approach to the study of violence in developing countries, as a special class of economic approaches to an increasingly wide circle of social phenomena. The paper then shows that there are other analytical approaches to studying labour market participation and its links to violent behaviour – in wars and in other forms of violence, including domestic violence. From a range of analytical sources, it becomes clear that there is a rich body of work on the reasons why there may be a variety of relationships between employment, unemployment, and violence. This paper argues that it is not wise simply to read off violent outcomes from given degrees of demographic bulge or, indeed, from given labour market figures and argues that there are no grounds empirically for the commonly made claims that there is a strong, automatic causal connection from unemployment, underemployment, or low productivity employment to violence and war. The implications are: that there are other grounds for acting to protect the lives and improve the prospects of those very large numbers of people vulnerable to appalling working conditions, to un- and under-employment, to poor health and premature death, to violence, and to extreme poverty; that specific variables, such as unemployment, typically have rather complex implications for violent outcomes; and that labour market and economic policy, if they are to be a part of efforts to reduce violence, cannot be reduced to policies designed simply to maximise the number of work opportunities available at however competitive or apparently market clearing a wage rate. Above all, perhaps, the implication of the work reviewed in this paper is that we still know too little empirically, let alone theoretically, about the relationships between labour market participation, institutions and relations and violence. In particular, the rapid growth of interest among development economists in the past twenty years or so in violent conflict and its aftermath in developing countries has made many advances but has devoted very little attention to labour markets. Details: Washington, DC: World Bank, 2010. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: World Development Report 2011 Background Paper: Accessed November 19, 2011 at: http://wdr2011.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/WDR%20Background%20Paper%20-%20Cramer.pdf?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=600&width=800 Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://wdr2011.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/WDR%20Background%20Paper%20-%20Cramer.pdf?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=600&width=800 Shelf Number: 123413 Keywords: Economic Conditions and ViolenceEconomics and CrimeUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Denmark. Rockwool Foundation Research Unit. Title: Criminals pay a high price after completing sentences Summary: The sentence in the court is: "You will go to prison for four months, and then pay a fine of 15% of your earnings each month for the rest of your life." No such harsh and unusual sentence has ever been pronounced in a Danish court, but nevertheless that is precisely the punishment that a criminal can look forward to in Denmark if he or she ends up in prison. New research from the Rockwool Foundation Research Unit shows that criminals have a great deal more punishment awaiting them after their release from prison: a form of indirect punishment. No sentence to such punishment has been handed down, but it is no less real and immediate for all that. According to Torben Tranaes, Research Director at the Rockwool Foundation Research Unit, this additional punishment lies in the greater difficulty offenders experience in finding work than they had before the crime and punishment took place, and the greater difficulty they have in re-establishing and maintaining the same level of income as before. The analysis shows that this indirect punishment is relatively heavy in Denmark, compared for example with similar punishment in the USA. The Danish analysis was based on the incomes of all those who received their first unconditional prison sentence in the period 1994-2003. Details of the analysis are presented in a Rockwool Foundation Research Unit book entitled Forbryderen og samfundet (The offender and society) (Gyldendal, 2008), which also contains details of research into the consequences of crime for relationships and into the connection between unemployment and crime. The Danish book is summarized in the newsletter. Details: Copenhagen, Denmark: Rockwool Foundation Research Unit, 2010. 12p. Source: Rockwool Foundation Research Unit Newsletter: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2012 at http://www.rff.dk/files/RFF-site/Publikations%20upload/Newsletters/Engelsk/2010_April_eng_sik.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.rff.dk/files/RFF-site/Publikations%20upload/Newsletters/Engelsk/2010_April_eng_sik.pdf Shelf Number: 124105 Keywords: Economics and CrimePunishmentSentencing (Denmark) (U.S.)Unemployment and Crime |
Author: Altindag, Duha T. Title: Essays on the Economics of Crime Summary: This dissertation includes three essays on the application of economics to various aspects of crime and criminal activity. The research presented in this dissertation points out a cause and a consequence of crime as well as the possible influence of a law on criminal activity. The first chapter provides an introduction to the ways that economic reasoning can be used to analyze criminal activity. The second chapter examines individuals‟ gun carrying activity in the presence of concealed weapon laws. The results suggest that allowing law-abiding individuals to carry concealed handguns is more likely to reduce crime than to increase it. Chapter 3 investigates the effect of joblessness on criminal activity using an international panel data set. The results indicate that increase in unemployment causes more property crimes. The fourth chapter presents evidence for the existence of a negative externality of crime. Countries that have higher crime rates suffer from the loss of international tourists and tourism revenue. Chapter 5 summarizes the findings of the dissertation, provides concluding remarks, and discusses opportunities for future research in the economics of crime. Details: Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Department of Economics, 2011. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 30, 2012 at: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-05152011-212114/unrestricted/altindag_diss.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-05152011-212114/unrestricted/altindag_diss.pdf Shelf Number: 124769 Keywords: Concealed WeaponsCosts of CrimeCrime and EconomicsGunsProperty CrimesUnemployment and Crime |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Title: The Impact of the Economic Downturn on American Police Agencies Summary: The economic crisis that began in 2008 has changed America in many ways. Unemployment rates have increased sharply, the stability of the housing market has collapsed, consumer spending has slowed, and city revenues have lessened. Law enforcement agencies are some of the hardest hit by the current economic climate, and they face a new reality in American policing—one that requires a shift in the methods they use to uphold levels of service while dealing with ever shrinking budgets. The importance of maintaining and expanding community policing practices during this time of economic hardship is paramount. Drawing from reputable surveys, publications, and a variety of data sets, The Impact of the Economic Downturn on American Police Agencies outlines the ways in which law enforcement agencies have been affected, and examines the ways some have responded. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2012 at http://cops.usdoj.gov/Publications/e101113406_Economic%20Impact%20Publication%20vFIN_19APR12.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://cops.usdoj.gov/Publications/e101113406_Economic%20Impact%20Publication%20vFIN_19APR12.pdf Shelf Number: 125839 Keywords: Economics and CrimePolice Policies and ProceduresUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Fuller, David L. Title: Unemployment Insurance Fraud and Optimal Monitoring Summary: The most prevalent incentive problem in the U.S. unemployment insurance system is that individuals collect unemployment benefits while being gainfully employed. We show how the unemployment insurance authority can efficiently use a combination of tax/subsidy and monitoring to prevent such fraud. The optimal policy monitors the unemployed at fixed intervals. Employment tax is nonmonotonic: it increases between verifications but decreases after a verification. Unemployment benefits are relatively flat between verifications but decrease sharply after a verification. Details: St. Louis, MO: Federal Research Bank of St. Louis, 2012. 41p. Source: Internet Resource:Working Paper 2012-024A: Accessed August 6, 2012 at: http://research.stlouisfed.org/wp/2012/2012-024.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://research.stlouisfed.org/wp/2012/2012-024.pdf Shelf Number: 125868 Keywords: Insurance FraudUnemployment and CrimeUnemployment Insurance |
Author: Jani, Nairruti Title: Exploring Vulnerability and Consent to Trafficking Related Migration: A Study of South Asian Bar Dancers Summary: Lack of resources in South Asian countries compel many people to migrate to other countries, some legally, others illegally. In 2005, Over 100,000 bar dancers in Mumbai became unemployed overnight when the state government banned bar dancing under international pressure. Some of these bar dancers were forced to become prostitutes; some others migrated to other countries, including U.S., for work (Chadha, 2007). While dancing in U.S., these girls are kept under heavy security, they are not allowed to talk to the patrons, nor are they allowed to go out of their designated apartment on their own. They are sent from one city to another city, and are generally unaware of their next destination. Even though these girls have migrated with their own will, their prison like situation suggests that they can be defined as victims of human trafficking. Even though the girls actually consented, they are subject to debt-bondage, earn very little income and are denied basic liberties. This ‘consensual trafficking’ has not been studied by the academic community or by the policy makers. This research studies bar dancers in U.S. and explores the factors which create vulnerability in bar dancers to consent to trafficking related migration. The main research question is (1) What are the reasons that create vulnerability among certain groups of people who either get trafficked or smuggled? This research explores a pioneering field of research which is a recent phenomenon. This qualitative research is based on grounded theory involving in-depth data collection from the informants and the researcher. The data collection was based on auto-ethnographic principles, where the researcher observes and interacts with participants and creates a detailed field note that includes researchers own perceptions about participant interactions. Findings indicate that the vulnerability to trafficking within south Asia is characterized by poverty, gender bias, caste or religion by birth, lack of education and lack of awareness. Single women are more prone to trafficking as they do not have any support systems and are required to feed themselves and their children. Lack of employable skill makes it difficult for them to find employment in South Asian competitive markets. Another significant finding is that positive social networks and family support reduced the risk of trafficking among South Asian women from rural areas to urban areas in South Asia. However, lack of family support got translated in lack of community networks for some victims who then chose to use unknown migration networks. Traffickers employed migration agents at rural areas who deceived many of South Asia women and lured them as well as their families by creating false dream jobs in foreign destinations. Some women got trapped in debt trap of these agents who paid the migration cost for the victims and enslaved them after reaching the destination. This finding relates to theory of social support, social exchange and migration theory of network. Lack of employment, increasing age, debts and acculturation in Mumbai bars were the primary contributors to South Asian bar dancers’ vulnerability to international trafficking. Older women and Muslim women were more prone to be trafficked to gulf countries where as Hindu girls and younger girls were trafficked to western countries. After the ban on dance bars in Mumbai the vulnerability of former bar dancers increased significantly due to reduced employment opportunities. Details: Arlington, TX: The University of Texas at Arlington, 2009. 184p. Source: Dissertation: Internet Resource: Accessed September 5, 2012 at http://dspace.uta.edu/bitstream/handle/10106/2015/Jani_uta_2502D_10428.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2009 Country: Asia URL: http://dspace.uta.edu/bitstream/handle/10106/2015/Jani_uta_2502D_10428.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 126271 Keywords: Debt BondageEmploymentHuman TraffickingMigrationSocial NetworksUnemployment and CrimeVictimization |
Author: Hui, Freda Title: Centrelink Prosecutions at the Employment/Benefit Nexus: A Case Study of Wollongong Summary: This report examines financial and social issues pertaining to Centrelink prosecutions for overpayments of unemployment‐related social security benefits. Specifically, it examines the circumstances of prosecutions of those returning to work, and those in precarious casual employment. A sample of overpayment prosecutions in the Wollongong area of New South Wales from July 2008 to June 2010 is profiled and analysed. Details: Wollongong, Australia: Social Accounting and Accountability Research Centre (SAARC), 2011. 70p. Source: Faculty of Commerce - Papers: Internet Resource: Accessed September 13, 2012 at http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1992&context=commpapers&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dcentrelink%2520prosecutions%2520at%2520the%2520employment%252Fbenefit%2520nexus%253A%2520a%2520case%2520study%2520of%2520wollongong%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CCIQFjAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fro.uow.edu.au%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1992%2526context%253Dcommpapers%26ei%3DrXpSUNTLFoXK9QS1oIDwDw%26usg%3DAFQjCNFLIuWVgjB15ftY6exRNJu1KPIZPw#search=%22centrelink%20prosecutions%20employment%2Fbenefit%20nexus%3A%20case%20study%20wollongong%22 Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1992&context=commpapers&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Dcentrelink%2520prosecutions%2520at%2520the%2520employment%252Fbenefit%252 Shelf Number: 126345 Keywords: Costs of CrimeDiffusion of BenefitsProsecutionUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Pyrooz, David Cyrus Title: The Non-Criminal Consequences of Gang Membership: Impacts on Education and Employment in the Life-Course Summary: Research on the consequences of gang membership is limited mainly to the study of crime and victimization. This gives the narrow impression that the effects of gang membership do not cascade into other life domains. This dissertation conceptualized gang membership as a snare in the life-course that disrupts progression in conventional life domains. National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Cohort of 1997 (NLSY97) data were used to examine the effects of adolescent gang membership on the nature and patterns of educational attainment and employment over a 12-year period in the life-course. Variants of propensity score weighting were used to assess the effects of gang joining on a range of outcomes pertaining to educational attainment and employment. The key findings in this dissertation include: (1) selection adjustments partially or fully confounded the effects of gang joining; despite this (2) gang joiners had 70 percent the odds of earning a high school diploma and 42 percent the odds of earning a 4-year college degree than matched individuals who avoided gangs; (3) at the 11-year mark, the effect of gang joining on educational attainment exceeded one-half year; (4) gang joiners made up for proximate deficits in high school graduation and college matriculation, but gaps in 4-year college degree and overall educational attainment gained throughout the study; (5) gang joiners were less likely to be employed and more likely to not participate in the labor force, and these differences accelerated toward the end of the study; (6) gang joiners spent an additional one-third of a year jobless relative to their matched counterparts; and (7) the cumulative effect of gang joining on annual income exceeded $14,000, which was explained by the patterning of joblessness rather than the quality of jobs. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings, as well as directions for future research, are addressed in the concluding chapter of this dissertation. Details: Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University, 2012. 179p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 25, 2012 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/239241.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/239241.pdf Shelf Number: 126447 Keywords: EducationEmploymentGangsUnemployment and CrimeYouth Gangs |
Author: Seekings, Jeremy Title: Socio-Economic Conditions, Young Men and Violence in Cape Town Summary: People in violent neighbourhoods attribute violence in public spaces to, especially, poverty and unemployment, but agree that social disintegration, disrespect, drinking and drugs and the weaknesses of the criminal justice system also contribute substantially. However, data from a panel of young men in Cape Town provide little support for the hypothesis that unemployment and poverty are direct causes of violence against strangers. Growing up in a home where someone drank heavily or took drugs is, however, a strong predictor of violence against strangers in early adulthood. A history of drinking (or taking drugs) correlates with perpetration of violence, and might also serve as a mechanism through which conditions during childhood have indirect effects. Living in a bad neighbourhood and immediate poverty are associated with violence against strangers, but being unemployed is not. Overall, heavy drinking – whether by adults in the childhood home or by young men themselves – seems to be a more important predictor of violence than economic circumstances in childhood or the recent past. Heavy drinking seems to play an important part in explaining why some young men have been more violent than others in circumstances that seem to have been generally conducive to rising violence, for reasons that remain unclear. It seems likely that few young people in South Africa in the early 2000s come from backgrounds that strongly predispose them against the use of violence. Details: Brighton, UK: MICROCON, University of Sussex, 2011. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: MICROCON Research Working Paper 49: Accessed December 4, 2012 at: http://www.microconflict.eu/publications/RWP49_JS_KT.pdf Year: 2011 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.microconflict.eu/publications/RWP49_JS_KT.pdf Shelf Number: 127121 Keywords: Alcohol AbusePovertySocio-Economic Conditions and CrimeUnemployment and CrimeUrban NeighborhoodsViolent Crime (Cape Town, South Africa)Youth Violence |
Author: Anderberg, Dan Title: Unemployment and Domestic Violence: Theory and Evidence Summary: Is unemployment the overwhelming determinant of domestic violence that many commentators expect it to be? The contribution of this paper is to examine, theoretically and empirically, how changes in unemployment affect the incidence of domestic abuse. The key theoretical prediction is that male and female unemployment have opposite-signed effects on domestic abuse: an increase in male unemployment decreases the incidence of intimate partner violence, while an increase in female unemployment increases domestic abuse. Combining data on intimate partner violence from the British Crime Survey with locally disaggregated labor market data from the UK’s Annual Population Survey, we find strong evidence in support of the theoretical prediction. Details: Munich: CESifo (Center for Economic Studies & Ifo Institute, 2013. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: CESifo Working Paper no. 4315: Accessed July 17, 2013 at: http://www.cesifo-group.de/ifoHome/infoservice/News/2013/07/news-20130716-CESifo-wp-4315.html Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.cesifo-group.de/ifoHome/infoservice/News/2013/07/news-20130716-CESifo-wp-4315.html Shelf Number: 129427 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Meloni, Osvaldo Title: Does Poverty Relief Spending Reduce Crime? Evidence from Argentina Summary: A large body of empirical research suggests that welfare spending reduces crime. Contrary to this dominant finding, a few recent studies conclude that there is no relationship between several measures of welfare spending and serious crime. This paper contributes to the debate using data from the largest poverty alleviation program launched by the Argentinean government to cope with the deleterious effects of the 2002 crisis featuring double-digit unemployment and half of the population below the poverty line. Province - level dynamic panel data reveals that the cash transfers program had a negative impact total crime although the effect was rather weak. The analyses of various types of crime show that the influence of the Argentine poverty relief spending was greater in Property Crimes than Crime against Persons, with the highest effect on larceny Details: Tucuman, Argentina: National University of Tucuman, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 11, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2128351 Year: 2012 Country: Argentina URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2128351 Shelf Number: 131622 Keywords: PovertySocioeconomic Conditions and Crime (Argentina)Unemployment and Crime Welfare |
Author: Caruso, Raul Title: What is the Relationship Between Unemployment and Rape? Evidence from a Panel of European Regions Summary: This paper analyzes the relationship between unemployment and rape in a panel of European regions. In particular, this paper is intended to test whether an 'opportunity perspective' holds for rape. The 'opportunity perspective' interprets the level of unemployment as an indicator of 'social inactivity', so that a negative relationship between violent crime and unemployment is predicted. Results show that rape and unemployment are positively associated so not confirming the opportunity perspective. Results are robust using alternative dependent variables, namely (i) the count of rape; (ii) the rape rate per 100,000 people. Details: Munich: Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA), 2014. Source: Internet Resource: MPRA Paper No. 54725: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/59041/9/MPRA_paper_59041.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 132525 Keywords: RapeSexual AssaultUnemployment and CrimeViolence Against WomenViolent Crime |
Author: Blank, Lorraine Title: Rapid Youth Assessment in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Summary: Crime and violence in Port Moresby and the National Capital District (NCD) are widespread and costly. In 2004, 68 percent of households reported that they had been victims of crime at least once in the past year and 51 percent had been victims of multiple crimes. Violence against women is pervasive, with domestic violence and rape, including gang rape, routine. By 2005, there had been small decreases in reported victimization; however, 61 percent of households still reported being victims of at least one crime and 46 percent reported being victims of multiple crimes. At the same time, costs associated with security and theft amounted to an estimated 12-15 percent of business turnover and law and order problems serve as a deterrent to investment. Young people account for the greatest share of crime and violence, so tackling the problem means addressing the underlying causes of youth crime and violence. This report provides a rapid assessment of youth and youth serving institutions in Port Moresby. The report relies on extensive consultations held in Port Moresby from July 7 - 23, 2008. Meetings were held with over 100 young people, their parents, community leaders, government officials, researchers, youth workers, leaders of youth groups and youth serving agencies, and representatives of the international non-governmental and donor agencies. Community meetings were held in three Port Moresby settlements (Savaka, Vadavada and Morata). Youth in a residential program for street boys were also consulted. The objective of this rapid assessment is to inform the design of an Urban Youth Empowerment Project by providing information on youth and youth serving initiatives. Section II examines the extent and root causes of youth unemployment and crime. High risk groups and monitoring indicators are identified. Good practices and lessons learned are presented in Section III. Section IV reports the mapping of community and civil society organizations - their programs and constraints and areas for potential partnership. Section V reviews the National Youth Commission Annual Work Plan (2008/2009) and youth programs implemented in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the last five years and ends with a review of relevant service delivery mechanisms and gap analysis" and rationale / outline of potential entry points for the Bank in certain sectors. Details: Washington, DC: World Bank, 2008. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 4, 2014 at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPAPUANEWGUINEA/Resources/PNG_UYEP_PNG_Rapid_Youth_Assessment.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPAPUANEWGUINEA/Resources/PNG_UYEP_PNG_Rapid_Youth_Assessment.pdf Shelf Number: 133176 Keywords: Juvenile DelinquencyJuvenile Offenders (Papua New Guinea)Socioeconomic Conditions and CrimeUnemployment and CrimeViolent CrimeYouthful Offenders |
Author: Scottish Government. Justice Analytical Services Title: Crime and Macroeconomic Performance in Scotland Summary: This paper analyses the relationship between macroeconomic performance and crime in Scotland. Economic theory suggests there may be a link between macroeconomic conditions and the prevalence of crime. This relationship is based upon the idea that crime (especially acquisitive crime) may become more attractive when there are fewer opportunities to engage in legitimate activities. This paper presents the findings from Scottish Government research examining the relationship between crime rates and the macroeconomic variables of unemployment and national output. This includes a substantial literature review and analysis of Scottish specific evidence. It finds that the evidence of a short run link between these macroeconomic variables and crime rates is ambiguous at best, and emphasises that Solidarity, along with sustainable economic growth, forms one of the key foundations of a Safer and Stronger society. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2010. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2014 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/933/0107229.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/933/0107229.pdf Shelf Number: 133783 Keywords: Economics and Crime Socioeconomic Conditions and Crime (Scotland) Unemployment and Crime |
Author: de Hoyos, Rafael Title: Idle youth in Mexico : trapped between the war on drugs and economic crisis Summary: The present study combines data from Mexico's employment surveys (Encuesta Nacional de Empleo and Encuesta Nacional de Ocupacion y Empleo) with the country's official statistics on murder rates to create a state-level panel data set covering the period 1995 to 2013. Including most of the common controls identified by the literature, the results show that the rate of male youth ages 19 to 24 not studying and out of work (the so-called ninis), is not correlated with homicide rates during the period 1995 to 2006. However, there is evidence that a positive correlation between male ninis and murder rates arises between 2007 and 2013, a period during which murder rates in Mexico increased threefold. The association between ninis and homicide rates is stronger in states located along the border with the United States, a region particularly affected by organized crime and the international financial crisis of 2008-09. Details: Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2016. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Research working paper; no. WPS 7558: Accessed February 17, 2016 at: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2016/02/04/090224b084147697/1_0/Rendered/PDF/Idle0youth0in000and0economic0crisis.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Mexico URL: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2016/02/04/090224b084147697/1_0/Rendered/PDF/Idle0youth0in000and0economic0crisis.pdf Shelf Number: 137868 Keywords: At-Risk YouthCrime RatesHomicidesMurdersOrganized CrimeUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Entorf, Horst Title: Does the Link between Unemployment and Crime Depend on the Crime Level? A Quantile Regression Approach Summary: Two alternative hypotheses - referred to as opportunity - and stigma-based behavior suggest that the relationship between unemployment and crime also depends on preexisting local crime levels. In order to analyze conjectured nonlinearities between both variables, we are using quantile regressions applied to German county panel data. While both conventional OLS and quantile regressions confirm the positive link between unemployment and crime for property crimes, results for assault differ with respect to the method of estimation. Whereas conventional mean regressions do not show any significant effect (which would confirm the usual result found for violent crimes in the literature), quantile regression uncovers that size and importance of the relationship are conditional on the crime rate: The partial effect is significantly positive for moderately low and median quantiles of local assault rates. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2014. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 8334: Accessed April 2, 2016 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp8334.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Germany URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp8334.pdf Shelf Number: 138534 Keywords: Socioeconomic Conditions and CrimeUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Caudill, Jonathan W. Title: Breaking Ground: Preliminary Report of Butte County Sheriff's Alternative Custody Supervision Program Summary: In January 2012, Sally Parker organized, at the request of Jon Caudill, a meeting between them, Undersheriff Kory Honea, Captain Andy Duch, Lt. Brian Flicker, and Ryan Patten. Recent AB 109 developments, including creation of the Butte County Sheriff's Office Alternative Custody Supervision (ACS) Program, led the legislated shift of prisoners from the state prison system to the county jail systems to the center stage across the state. From the meeting originated a research agreement between the Principle Investigator, Jonathan Caudill, and the Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) including three specific projects: a) identify county prisoner inmate needs, b) establish a recidivism measure, and c) evaluate implementation of the ACS Program. These specific projects, however, also relate to a general philosophy of managing the jail population and improving public safety, while providing offenders with appropriate tools for success. The balance between public safety, managing jail resources, and offender treatment has been the focus of many discussions and the focal point of the BCSO Executive Command. The key to balancing these foci is understanding their interconnectedness. The overarching goals of these projects have been to understand this interconnectedness and identify specific adjustments. As explained in the findings section, we found some anticipated and some unexpected results. First and as expected, we found that many of the surveyed inmates expressed a desire for services while incarcerated and continued assistance during reentry. Several theoretical frameworks may explain these findings; however, the underlying desire for a continuum of services remains. While these are preliminary findings and should be interpreted as such, these findings are commonsensical as we know that approximately two-thirds of inmates were unemployed when arrested. If an individual is unemployed prior to a new felony conviction and incarceration, they are even less employable afterwards. Given these findings, we recommend the BCSO staff conduct a supervision and treatment plan for all potential ACS eligible inmates. Implemented correctly, this strategy will increase treatment accuracy and gauge supervision needs. Our second expected finding was the limitations of the current data collection strategy and offender management system. We knew at the onset that intensive community supervision was a new concept for the BCSO and, therefore, they lacked appropriate software. The BCSO, at the time of this report, has an active jail information management system request for proposal and requested that this study's PI consult in the proposal scoring process. We recommend that the BCSO continue their search for an appropriate offender management system that has the capacity to store historical data and network with other county systems. Third, we discovered that the BCSO implemented the ACS Program in an efficient manner and is now prepared to proceed to the formalization phase. In fact, the projected one-year recidivism estimation suggested the ACS program has a lower recidivism rate than the most recent California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) one-year recidivism rate. Our analyses revealed the current ACS six-month recidivism rate just below 20 percent (0.19). Based on this number and previous time-to-recidivism research, we estimated the ACS program one-year recidivism rate at 0.327, while the most recent CDCR recidivism estimate for property and drug offenders was 0.492. Additionally, the data suggest that officers are maintaining a service orientation (67 percent of all officer-participant encounters were service, as opposed to enforcement). This trend, however, has the potential to wane once the program newness expires. New programs produce excitement and enthusiasm, but the natural conflict accompanying offender management can generate "burnout" and depersonalization. Depersonalization can hinder service provision and supervision strategies. To protect ACS officers from unnecessary occupational stress, we recommend that the BCSO further formalize the ACS program, to include additional officer training and a comprehensive, evidence-based supervision strategy. Beyond the anticipated preliminary findings, we also discovered two unanticipated findings. First, both the logistic regression model and survival analysis revealed an opportunity to make the ACS risk assessment tool more efficient. Although the estimated coefficients were in the appropriate direction (positive correlation between risk scores and recidivism), the unadjusted risk scores lacked consistency across time (see Graph 1 for a visual representation of risk scores regressed on time to failure). These findings suggest that the BCSO can use proper data, a comprehensive understanding of crime and its correlates, and advanced statistics to improve public safety through recidivism reduction and resource management. To improve the risk assessment tool, we recommend that the BCSO explore a population-validated risk assessment tool. Our last two findings are of methodological concerns. We discovered during the preliminary analysis that the inmate needs survey design and delivery required adjustment. Specifically, the results suggest two previous treatment questions produced poor response rates and at least one current needs question confused interview sessions. The research team is considering both of these issues and they anticipate a new version of the inmate needs survey. Related to survey delivery, there remains confusion among jail staff and inmates as to the project goals, thereby making this process somewhat inefficient. The research team implemented an alternative survey strategy and, after evaluation of the response rates, they may recommend further data collection adjustments. The second methodological concern focuses mainly on evaluation resources. The preliminary results provide several interesting outcomes and important corollary projects. The additional pressures of county prison on the BCSO jail have generated further interest in resource management strategies and efficient alternative custody programs. For example, the BCSO administrative staff approved an experimental research design assessing the efficiencies of flash incarceration as an intermediate sanction. Unfortunately, the research team lacks resources beyond the current evaluation plan to conduct this study given their other professional demands. Based on the gravity and complexity of AB 109 legislation and the innovative strategy spearheaded by the BCSO in response to resource re-alignment, we recommend the BCSO work proactively to prioritize research projects promoting public safety and resource management. Related, the BCSO has the potential to move from a state best-practices model6 to a national model of best practices, but this may require additional evaluation resources. Based on this logic, the BCSO should continue external funding activities that include evaluation resources. Collectively, the preliminary findings are positive for BCSO's goal of balancing public safety, jail resources, and offender treatment. The American Civil Liberties Union of California recently released a county-level analysis of best practices, Public Safety Realignment: California at a Crossroads. The terminology "at a crossroads" suggests what occurs now will have a profound influence on the future of offender management. We find value in this idea, but also assert that offender management is dynamic and requires recursive evidence-based program models. The BCSO is breaking ground with an unparalleled, innovative approach to public safety, jail resource management, and offender treatment. For the BCSO, the next logical step is to utilize these preliminary findings as a guidepost for program development. Details: Chico, CA: California State University, Chico, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2016 at: https://www.csuchico.edu/pols/documents/breaking-ground-final-report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.csuchico.edu/pols/documents/breaking-ground-final-report.pdf Shelf Number: 139275 Keywords: Corrections OfficersCriminal Justice ReformJail InmatesJailsOffender SupervisionPublic Safety RealignmentRecidivismUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Galiani, Sebastian Title: Crime and Durable Goods Summary: Crime and the durability of goods are strongly connected issues. However, surprisingly, they have been studied separately. This paper explores the relationship between the production of durable goods and crime from a theoretical perspective and draws important conclusions for both topics. Crime affects the consumer and producer surplus and thus the behavior of consumers, firms, the market equilibrium, and, in turn, the social optimum. Lower durability of goods reduces the incentive to steal those goods, thus reducing crime. When crime is included in the standard framework of durable goods, even without considering the negative externalities of crime, perfect competition does not provide the optimal durability level. When considering different stealing technologies, perfect competition either over-produces durability or produces zero (minimum) durability. The monopolist under-produces durability regardless of the stealing technology considered. If crime externalities are taken into account, the socially optimal durability level is reduced and gets closer to that which prevails under monopoly. The model presented in this paper implies that the durability of goods, and the market structure for those goods, can be an effective instrument to reduce crime. In particular, making the durability of a good contingent upon that good being stolen is likely to increase welfare. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2016. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series, no. 22788: Accessed November 2, 2016 at: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22788.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22788.pdf Shelf Number: 145005 Keywords: ConsumersProperty CrimeStealingTheftUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Gehrsitz, Markus Title: Jobs, Crime, and Votes - A Short-run Evaluation of the Refugee Crisis in Germany Summary: Millions of refugees made their way to Europe between 2014 and 2015, with over one million arriving in Germany alone. Yet, little is known about the impact of this inflow on labor markets, crime, and voting behavior. This article uses administrative data on refugee allocation and provides an evaluation of the short-run consequences of the refugee inflow. Our identification strategy exploits that a scramble for accommodation determined the assignment of refugees to German counties resulting in exogeneous variations in the number of refugees per county within and across states. Our estimates suggest that migrants have not displaced native workers but have themselves struggled to find gainful employment. We find very small increases in crime in particular with respect to drug offenses and fare-dodging. Our analysis further suggests that counties which experience a larger influx see neither more nor less support for the main anti-immigrant party than counties which experience small migrant inflows. Details: Mannheim: Centre for European Economic Research, 2016. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: ZEW Discussion Paper No. 16-086 : Accessed February 13, 2017 at: http://www.zew.de/en/publikationen/jobs-crime-and-votes-a-short-run-evaluation-of-the-refugee-crisis-in-germany/?cHash=d082c304ea3aca820856d2c78c22852b Year: 2016 Country: Germany URL: http://www.zew.de/en/publikationen/jobs-crime-and-votes-a-short-run-evaluation-of-the-refugee-crisis-in-germany/?cHash=d082c304ea3aca820856d2c78c22852b Shelf Number: 145103 Keywords: ImmigrantsRefugeesUnemployment and Crime |
Author: Idris, Iffat Title: Youth unemployment and violence: Rapid Literature Review Summary: This literature review looks at the evidence for a causal link between youth unemployment and violence in stable developing countries, focusing on crime, gang violence and domestic violence. It also looks at the effectiveness of donor programming to address this issue, and identifies areas where further research is needed. Perceived link between youth unemployment and violence The literature shows a strong acceptance of the assumption that youth unemployment is a factor leading to violence - both criminality and youth participation in political violence and armed groups. The hypothesis is that, without jobs, young people are prone to violence and pose a threat to society. This is thought to be particularly the case in countries with a high proportion of young people - 'youth bulges'. A search for empirical evidence to back up this hypothesis reveals two critical points: 1) a lack of consistency about terminology and definitions; and 2) a lack of data. Youth is defined differently in different countries/regions and by different agencies: whereas the UN defines youth as the age group from 15 to 24 years old, it can include someone as young as 12 or as old as 35. There also tends to be an assumption that youth in the context of unemployment and violence refers only to young males, not females. Moreover, there is ambiguity about whether it is unemployment or under-employment and the quality of work young people have that is relevant. Finding accurate, up-to-date, comprehensive, gender and age-disaggregated data on youth in developing countries is a major challenge. This is arguably even more the case in relation to unemployment and violence than in 'traditional' development sectors such as education and health. Details: Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of Birmingham, 2016. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2017 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/58c8019640f0b67ec500018c/YouthUnemployment_Violence.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/58c8019640f0b67ec500018c/YouthUnemployment_Violence.pdf Shelf Number: 145147 Keywords: Developing CountriesDomestic ViolenceEconomics of CrimeGang ViolenceUnemployment and CrimeYouthful Offenders |