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Gangs of London and public housing

Author

Listed:
  • Richard Disney
  • Tom Kirchmaier
  • Stephen Machin
  • Carmen Villa

Abstract

Novel spatial data on London street gangs between 1990 and 2015 are combined with local housing characteristics to produce a newly constructed data source that shows how social housing and its architectural design relates to gang presence and neighbourhood crime. High-rise public housing estates built in the post-World War II era are much more likely to host gangs than areas without social housing. To address concerns that social housing was built in already high-crime areas, localised high-rise construction is shown to be predicted from spatial patterns of WWII bomb damage that occurred in the 1940-41 Blitz. Bomb-induced high-rise construction significantly raises gang presence and criminality, with there being especially high juvenile crime rates in gang areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Disney & Tom Kirchmaier & Stephen Machin & Carmen Villa, 2026. "Gangs of London and public housing," CEP Discussion Papers dp2147, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2147
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eric Chyn, 2018. "Moved to Opportunity: The Long-Run Effects of Public Housing Demolition on Children," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(10), pages 3028-3056, October.
    2. Antonella Bandiera & Lelys Dinarte Diaz & Sandra V. Rozo & Carlos Schmidt-Padilla & María Micaela Sviatschi & Hernan Winkler, 2023. "The Unintended Consequences of Deportations: Evidence from Firm Behavior in El Salvador," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 71(4), pages 1331-1358.
    3. Gaurav Khanna & Carlos Medina & Anant Nyshadham & Jorge Tamayo & Nicolas Torres, 2023. "Formal Employment and Organised Crime: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Colombia," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(654), pages 2427-2448.
    4. Gerard H Dericks & Hans R A Koster, 2021. "The billion pound drop: the Blitz and agglomeration economies in London [The economics of density: evidence from the Berlin wall]," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 21(6), pages 869-897.
    5. Richard Disney & John Gathergood & Stephen Machin & Matteo Sandi, 2023. "Does Homeownership Reduce Crime? A Radical Housing Reform from the UK," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(655), pages 2640-2675.
    6. Daron Acemoglu & Giuseppe De Feo & Giacomo Davide De Luca, 2020. "Weak States: Causes and Consequences of the Sicilian Mafia," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 87(2), pages 537-581.
    7. Daniel Borbely & Gennaro Rossi, 2023. "Urban regeneration projects and crime: evidence from Glasgow," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(6), pages 1273-1301.
    8. Disney, Richard & Luo, Guannan, 2017. "The Right to Buy public housing in Britain: A welfare analysis," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 51-68.
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