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Crime and Unemployment: Evidence from Europe

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  • Duha T. Altindag

Abstract

I investigate the impact of unemployment on crime using a country-level panel data set from Europe that contains consistently-measured crime statistics. Unemployment has a positive influence on property crimes. Using earthquakes, industrial accidents and the exchange rate movements as instruments for the unemployment rate, I find that 2SLS point estimates are larger than OLS estimates.

Suggested Citation

  • Duha T. Altindag, 2011. "Crime and Unemployment: Evidence from Europe," Auburn Economics Working Paper Series auwp2011-13, Department of Economics, Auburn University.
  • Handle: RePEc:abn:wpaper:auwp2011-13
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Crime; Europe; Unemployment; Earthquakes; Industrial accidents; Instrumental variables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • J00 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - General

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