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Does uber affect crime? Evidence from U․S․

Author

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  • Zhang, Jian
  • Sun, Xuhong
  • Zhu, Xinyu
  • Kong, Dongmin

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between the ride-hailing platform Uber and local crime. Using a difference-in-differences approach with a sample of 28,258 city-year observations across the U.S. from 2009 to 2019, we find that Uber’s entry significantly reduces crime rates. Exploring the underlying mechanism, we show that Uber’s crime-reducing effect is significantly stronger in areas facing greater liquidity constraints—specifically, regions with less bank credit supply, fewer local job opportunities, higher personal bankruptcy risk, and greater household financial stress. Consistent with this mechanism, further analysis reveals that this effect is particularly pronounced for crimes with explicit financial motives, such as robbery and larceny. Overall, our findings demonstrate that Uber may enhance urban safety by providing an economic safety net that mitigates the motivation for crime.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Jian & Sun, Xuhong & Zhu, Xinyu & Kong, Dongmin, 2026. "Does uber affect crime? Evidence from U․S․," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:244:y:2026:i:c:s0167268126000582
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2026.107472
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