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Crime rates and inequality: a study of crime in contemporary China

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  • Tsun Se Cheong
  • Yanrui Wu

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of intra-provincial regional inequality on crime rates in China. The results suggest that the western theories of crime can be applied equally to China. The crime rate is found to be positively correlated with intra-provincial regional inequality, but negatively correlated with the level of education. In addition, it is also observed that the crime rate is positively linked with the level of inflation, unemployment rate, as well as inequality in consumption and employment between the rural and urban sectors. The results lend strong support to Merton's theory and Marxian theory. However, the rational choice theory is not supported.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsun Se Cheong & Yanrui Wu, 2015. "Crime rates and inequality: a study of crime in contemporary China," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 202-223, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjapxx:v:20:y:2015:i:2:p:202-223
    DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2014.964961
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cheong, Tsun Se & Wu, Yanrui, 2014. "The impacts of structural transformation and industrial upgrading on regional inequality in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 339-350.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pazzona, Matteo, 2024. "Revisiting the Income Inequality-Crime Puzzle," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Jianxiong Hu & Guanhao He & Ruilin Meng & Weiwei Gong & Zhoupeng Ren & Heng Shi & Ziqiang Lin & Tao Liu & Fangfang Zeng & Peng Yin & Guoxia Bai & Mingfang Qin & Zhulin Hou & Xiaomei Dong & Chunliang Z, 2023. "Temperature-related mortality in China from specific injury," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Li, Jing & Wan, Guanghua & Wang, Chen & Zhang, Xueliang, 2019. "Which indicator of income distribution explains crime better? Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 51-72.
    4. Gong, Chen & Sologon, Denisa M. & Nimeh, Zina & O'Donoghue, Cathal, 2023. "Decomposition of the Changes in Household Disposable Income Distribution in China," IZA Discussion Papers 15914, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Cheong, Tsun Se & Wu, Yanrui, 2018. "Convergence and transitional dynamics of China's industrial output: A county-level study using a new framework of distribution dynamics analysis," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 125-138.
    6. Cheng, Zhiming & Smyth, Russell, 2015. "Crime victimization, neighborhood safety and happiness in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 424-435.
    7. Andy Cheng & Tsun Se Cheong & Michal Wojewodzki, 2025. "Linking the dots: Housing prices and crime rates across Chinese provinces," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 45(1), pages 544-554.
    8. Roberto Coronado & Eduardo Saucedo, 2019. "Drug-related violence in Mexico and its effects on employment," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 653-681, August.
    9. Wai Choi Lee & Tsun Se Cheong & Yanrui Wu & Jianxin Wu, 2019. "The Impacts of Financial Development, Urbanization, and Globalization on Income Inequality: A Regression-based Decomposition Approach," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 18(2), pages 126-141, Summer.

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