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Crime highways: The effect of motorway expansion on burglary rates

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  • Kerri Agnew

Abstract

Burglars can exploit a high‐quality road network to transport stolen goods quickly. To study the effect of motorway connections on burglary rates, spatial variation in connectivity to the motorway network and the timing of new connections are exploited using an annual panel of 562 policing Sub Districts in Ireland during 2004–2015. On average, burglary rates rise by 10% in the year of motorway connection. This paper shows for the first time that major road construction affects the spatial distribution of crime.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerri Agnew, 2020. "Crime highways: The effect of motorway expansion on burglary rates," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 995-1024, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jregsc:v:60:y:2020:i:5:p:995-1024
    DOI: 10.1111/jors.12491
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Shreya Biswas & Ritika Jain, 2026. "The Road to Safety - Examining the Nexus between Road Infrastructure and Crime in Rural India," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 24(1), pages 103-126, March.
    3. 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).
    4. Yuanyuan Mao & Shuqi Huang & Yueqiao Ning & Can Wang & Wenchao Li & Ziheng Huang & Shanhe Jiang & Yanqing Xu, 2025. "Unraveling the Nexus: how street network morphology influences crime in Detroit," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Felipe González & Josepa Miquel-Florensa & Mounu Prem & Stéphane Straub, 2025. "The Dark Side of Infrastructure: Roads, Repression and Land in Authoritarian Paraguay," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(666), pages 653-669.

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