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The effect of monitoring and crowds on crime and law enforcement: A natural experiment from European football

Author

Listed:
  • Brad R. Humphreys

    (West Virginia University, Department of Economics)

  • Alexander Marsella

    (West Virginia University, Department of Economics)

  • Levi Perez

    (University of Oviedo)

Abstract

Technological advancements like the presence of smart phones and body cameras have led to increased monitoring of police, but little evidence exists on their impact. We address these problems using data on fouls from football matches in five European football leagues over six seasons. This period contains exogenous changes in monitoring rule enforcers through introduction of Video Assistant Referee review and limited "bystanders" from Covid-19 restrictions. Results from difference-in-differences models estimated separately for each league indicate that both events influenced the number of fouls called with substantial heterogeneity across leagues and home/away teams.

Suggested Citation

  • Brad R. Humphreys & Alexander Marsella & Levi Perez, 2022. "The effect of monitoring and crowds on crime and law enforcement: A natural experiment from European football," Working Papers 22-08, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    • Handle: RePEc:wvu:wpaper:22-08
    as

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    File URL: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=econ_working-papers
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    crime; police monitoring; football fouls;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • Z20 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - General

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