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Crime and community heterogeneity: race, ethnicity, and religion

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  • Michelle Trawick
  • Roy Howsen

Abstract

Prior studies have explored the relationship between race and religion and their effect on various crimes. In the USA race is typically defined as the proportion of a community that is African-American or nonwhite. Likewise, religion is defined as the proportion of a community that adheres to any religious denomination. This study extends earlier work by employing Herfindahl indices as measures of community homogeneity with respect to race and ethnicity as well as religious denominations. It also measures religiosity based on four different denominational groups, rather than religiosity as an aggregate. Results indicate that as a community's degree of homogeneity increases, in terms of both race/ethnicity and religion, crime decreases; and that the effects of religion on crime may vary by denomination.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle Trawick & Roy Howsen, 2006. "Crime and community heterogeneity: race, ethnicity, and religion," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(6), pages 341-345.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:13:y:2006:i:6:p:341-345
    DOI: 10.1080/13504850500395324
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Jose, Esther & Mukherjee, Sayanti & Swaminathan, Jose, 2025. "Evaluating socioeconomic factors for crime against women in developing countries: A data-centric statistical learning approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).

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