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Love Thy Neighbour? Brexit and Hate Crime

Author

Listed:
  • Carr, Joel

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Clifton-Sprigg, Joanna

    (University of Bath)

  • James, Jonathan

    (University of Bath)

  • Vujic, Suncica

    (University of Antwerp)

Abstract

We provide causal evidence of the impact of the Brexit referendum vote on hate crime in the United Kingdom (UK). Using various data sources, including unique data collected from the UK Police Forces by Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and various estimation methods (difference-in-differences, event-study analysis and synthetic control methods), we find that the Brexit referendum led to an increase in hate crime by around 15-25%. This effect was concentrated in the first quarter after the referendum and was larger in areas that voted to leave the European Union (EU). We also provide evidence against the hypotheses that this was due to victims' greater willingness to report crimes or due to changes in police behaviour and perceptions of the victims. We also present suggestive evidence that the media and social media played a small but significant role in the increase in hate crime.

Suggested Citation

  • Carr, Joel & Clifton-Sprigg, Joanna & James, Jonathan & Vujic, Suncica, 2020. "Love Thy Neighbour? Brexit and Hate Crime," IZA Discussion Papers 13902, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13902
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hagemeister, Felix, 2022. "Populism and propagation of far-right extremism," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    2. Di Iasio, Valentina & Wahba, Jackline, 2023. "Expecting Brexit and UK migration: Should I go?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    3. Carr, Joel & James, Jonathan & Clifton-Sprigg, Joanna & Vujic, Suncica, 2022. "Hate in the Time of COVID-19: Racial Crimes against East Asians," IZA Discussion Papers 15718, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. M L Williams & A Sutherland & V Roy-Chowdhury & T Loke & A Cullen & L Sloan & P Burnap & P Giannasi, 2023. "The Effect of the Brexit Vote on the Variation in Race and Religious Hate Crimes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland," The British Journal of Criminology, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, vol. 63(4), pages 1003-1023.
    5. Amuedo-Dorantes, Catalina & Romiti, Agnese, 2021. "International Student Applications in the United Kingdom after Brexit," IZA Discussion Papers 14247, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. CARR, Joel, 2022. "BLM protests and racial hate crime in the United States," Working Papers 2022008, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    hate crime; referendum vote; Brexit; synthetic control method;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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