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Social Capital and Hit-and-Run Road Accidents: Evidence from Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Stefano Castriota

    (University of Pisa)

  • Sandro Rondinella

    (University of Calabria)

  • Mirco Tonin

    (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
    FBK-IRVAPP
    CESifo
    IZA)

Abstract

We use data on Italian road accidents involving pedestrians in the period 2000–2016 to study the link between social capital and the driver’s decision to flee. Running away is a serious crime which affects the victim’s probability to survive after the accident. We merge detailed police records on road accidents with data on social capital at the province level and find a strong negative correlation between social capital and the decision to run away. The analysis is in line with previous studies suggesting that social capital is an important driver of human behaviour even in situations characterized by strict time constraints and dramatic psychological conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefano Castriota & Sandro Rondinella & Mirco Tonin, 2025. "Social Capital and Hit-and-Run Road Accidents: Evidence from Italy," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 11(1), pages 341-360, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:italej:v:11:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s40797-024-00272-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s40797-024-00272-8
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    JEL classification:

    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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