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Immigration, Fear of Crime, and Public Spending on Security

Author

Listed:
  • Vincenzo Bove
  • Leandro Elia
  • Massimiliano Ferraresi

Abstract

We explore the relation between immigration, crime, and local government spending on security in Italian municipalities. We find that immigration increases the share of public resources devoted to police protection, particularly when migrants are culturally distant from the native population. We uncover a misalignment between perception and reality, as immigration is associated to fear of future crimes rather than the actual probability of being victim of a crime. We also demonstrate that immigration from culturally distant societies corresponds to a deterioration in civic cooperation and interpersonal trust, which can affect perceptions of safety and the demand for police services.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincenzo Bove & Leandro Elia & Massimiliano Ferraresi, 2023. "Immigration, Fear of Crime, and Public Spending on Security," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 39(1), pages 235-280.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jleorg:v:39:y:2023:i:1:p:235-280.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jleo/ewab021
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    Cited by:

    1. Augusto Cerqua & Federico Zampollo, 2021. "Deeds or words? The local influence of anti-immigrant parties on foreigners’ flows in Italy," Working Papers 6/21, Sapienza University of Rome, DISS.
    2. Long Qian & Lixian Liu & Hongbo Liu & Xinjie Shi, 2024. "How does Migration Impact Individuals’ Public Safety Perceptions? Evidence from China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 503-524, September.
    3. Olivier Bargain & Victor Stephane & Jérôme Valette, 2022. "Another brick in the wall. Immigration and electoral preferences: Direct evidence from state ballots," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 1452-1477, November.
    4. Manzoni, Elena & Murard, Elie & Quercia, Simone & Tonini, Sara, 2024. "News, Emotions, and Policy Views on Immigration," IZA Discussion Papers 17017, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Traettino, Salvador, 2023. "Migración forzada y finanzas públicas locales: evidencia de los municipios en Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12926, Inter-American Development Bank.
    6. Ekaterina Borisova & Timothy Frye & Koen Schoors & Vladimir Zabolotskiy, 2022. "Fear, Trust and Demand for Regulation: Evidence from the Covid-19 Pandemic in Russia," CESifo Working Paper Series 10156, CESifo.
    7. Hadhri, Sinda, 2024. "The role of migration fear in (dis)connecting stock markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    8. Bottasso, Anna & Cerruti, Gianluca & Conti, Maurizio & Santagata, Marta, 2024. "Sailing Through History: The Legacy of Medieval Sea Trade On Migrant Perception and Extreme Right Voting," IZA Discussion Papers 16996, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • F52 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - National Security; Economic Nationalism

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