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Immigration, Crime, and Crime (Mis)Perceptions

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolás Ajzenman
  • Patricio Dominguez
  • Raimundo Undurraga

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of immigration on crime and crime perceptions in Chile, where the foreign-born population tripled in less than ten years. We document null effects of immigration on crime but positive and significant effects on crime-related concerns and on preventive behavioral responses, such as investing in home security. We explore several channels and provide suggestive evidence related to low- versus high-education immigrants, ethnicity-related intergroup threats, and the role of local media.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolás Ajzenman & Patricio Dominguez & Raimundo Undurraga, 2023. "Immigration, Crime, and Crime (Mis)Perceptions," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(4), pages 142-176, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:142-76
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20210156
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    Cited by:

    1. Groeger, Andre & León-Ciliotta, Gianmarco & Stillman, Steven, 2024. "Immigration, labor markets and discrimination: Evidence from the Venezuelan Exodus in Perú," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    2. Laurent Bossavie & Daniel Garrote‐Sanchez & Mattia Makovec & Çağlar Özden, 2022. "Do immigrants shield the locals? Exposure to COVID‐related risks in the European Union," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 1478-1514, November.
    3. Campo, Francesco & Giunti, Sara & Mendola, Mariapia, 2024. "Refugee crisis and right-wing populism: Evidence from the Italian Dispersal Policy," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Joshua K. Bedi & Shaomeng Jia & Claudia Williamson Kramer, 2025. "Protecting Postville? The impact of deportation and immigration on crime," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 203(3), pages 369-396, June.
    5. Zanoni, Wladimir & Díaz, Lina, 2024. "Discrimination against migrants and its determinants: Evidence from a Multi-Purpose Field Experiment in the Housing Rental Market," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    6. Morales-Arilla, Jose & Martin, Diego & Morales, Alvaro, 2025. "Escaping from hardship, searching for comfort: Climate matching in refugees’ destination choices," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    7. Andrés Barrios Fernández & Jorge Garcia-Hombrados & Daniel Perez-Parra, 2025. "Police effectiveness, geographic specialization, police organization," CEP Discussion Papers dp2122, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    8. Fabregas, Raissa & Zanoni, Wladimir, 2025. "The migrant penalty in Latin America: Experimental evidence from job recruiters," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    9. Perroni, Carlo & Scharf, Kimberley & Smith, Sarah & Talavera, Oleksandr & Vi, Linh, 2024. "Local Crime and Prosocial Attitudes : Evidence from Charitable Donations," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1493, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    10. Lebow, Jeremy & Moreno-Medina, Jonathan & Mousa, Salma & Coral, Horacio, 2024. "Migrant exposure and anti-migrant sentiment: The case of the Venezuelan exodus," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    11. Liu, Wen & Xu, Zhicheng, 2025. "Lost in translation: Dialect distance, social assimilation and immigrant crimes in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    12. Ibanez, Ana Maria & Rozo, Sandra V. & Bahar, Dany, 2020. "Empowering Migrants: Impacts of a Migrant's Amnesty on Crime Reports," IZA Discussion Papers 13889, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Diego A. Martin & Jose Ramon Morales Arilla & Alvaro Morales, 2024. "Escaping from hardship, searching for comfort: Climate matching in refugees’ destination choices," Growth Lab Working Papers 237, Harvard's Growth Lab.
    14. Liu, Xinyan & Bai, Yu & Li, Yanjun & Sun, Yajie, 2024. "Highway havens for hidden horrors: Expressway connections and child trafficking in China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    15. Pablo Argote & Lucas Perelló, 2024. "Explaining the Impact of South-South Migration: Evidence from Chile’s Immigration Boom," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 2071-2093, December.
    16. Sardoschau, Sulin & Gulino, Giorgio & Masera, Federico, 2025. "Identity Under Scrutiny: Media Attention and Rule Compliance," IZA Discussion Papers 17888, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • 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
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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