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Unhappiness and Crime: Evidence from South Africa

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  • Nattavudh Powdthavee

Abstract

This paper is the first of its kind to study quality of life responses of crime victims. Using cross‐sectional data from the OHS97 survey of South Africa, it is shown that victims report significantly lower well‐being than the non‐victims, ceteris paribus. Happiness is lower for non‐victimized respondents currently living in higher crime areas. However, some evidence is found that criminal victimization hurts, but hurts less if regional crime rate on our reference group is high.

Suggested Citation

  • Nattavudh Powdthavee, 2005. "Unhappiness and Crime: Evidence from South Africa," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 72(287), pages 531-547, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:econom:v:72:y:2005:i:287:p:531-547
    DOI: 10.1111/j.0013-0427.2005.00429.x
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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