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Relationship between police efficiency and crime rate: a worldwide approach

Author

Listed:
  • Javier Parra Domínguez

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Isabel María García Sánchez

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

  • Luis Rodríguez Domínguez

    (Universidad de Salamanca)

Abstract

This work aims to study the relationship between crime rate and police efficiency in a number of countries worldwide in the 1998–2006 period, controlling for other variables such as probability of being arrested, probability of being convicted, population density, literacy rate, GDP per capita, unemployment rate and foreign direct investment. On average, police efficiency for the period studied is 84 %. The mean efficiency ratio ranges from 0.82 to 0.87. The upper limit corresponds to 2004, and the lower limit is found in the years 1998, 2000 and 2002. The results obtained show the inverse relationship between police efficiency and the crime rate while a direct relationship is obtained for the variable literacy. Similar findings were obtained in our robustness analysis, in which police efficiency negatively affects other measures of delinquency levels, such as the UN victimization survey variable.

Suggested Citation

  • Javier Parra Domínguez & Isabel María García Sánchez & Luis Rodríguez Domínguez, 2015. "Relationship between police efficiency and crime rate: a worldwide approach," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 203-223, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ejlwec:v:39:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1007_s10657-013-9398-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10657-013-9398-8
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Data envelopment analysis; Panel data methodology; Police services; Public sector; Efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H83 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Public Administration
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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