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Population Size vs. Number of Crimes: Is the Relationship Superlinear?

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  • YuSang Chang

    (Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea)

  • SungSup Brian Choi

    (Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea)

  • JinSoo Lee

    (KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Seoul, South Korea)

  • Won Chang Jin

    (Gallup Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

Abstract

Do large cities suffer from an even greater incidence of crime? According to the Urban Scaling Theory, the number of crimes committed may follow a superlinear relationship as a function of the population size of city. For example, if the population size increases by 100%, the incidence of crime may increase by 120%. We analyzed a total of 11 types of crimes which had occurred in about 250 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in the United States during the period of 1995-2010. We found that the relationship between the number of crimes counts and the population size of cities have followed a superlinear power function without exception in all 176 cases. However, significant variations exist among the superlinear relations by types of crime. We also found that the values of scale exponents display time-invariant pattern during the 16-year period.

Suggested Citation

  • YuSang Chang & SungSup Brian Choi & JinSoo Lee & Won Chang Jin, 2018. "Population Size vs. Number of Crimes: Is the Relationship Superlinear?," International Journal of Information Systems and Social Change (IJISSC), IGI Global, vol. 9(1), pages 26-39, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:igg:jissc0:v:9:y:2018:i:1:p:26-39
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