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Structural Factors and the “War on Drugs” Effects on the Upsurge in Homicides in Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Eduardo Rodrigues-Oreggia
  • Miguel Flores

Abstract

Violence has increased all around Mexico in the last years, reflecting an uprise in the rate of homicides, and especially after some federal intervention took place to fight the drug cartels in some states. In this paper we use data at the municipal level to link social and institutional factors with the rates of homicides. We exploit the entrance for federal army interventions in 2007 and 2008 in some states to fight drug cartels. Using different estimation methods, we find that inequality, access to social security and income, as well as local provision of security and law are relevant in explaining homicides. We also find that the army interventions have increased not only drug related homicides, but also general homicides in municipalities under intervention compared with those with no intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduardo Rodrigues-Oreggia & Miguel Flores, 2012. "Structural Factors and the “War on Drugs” Effects on the Upsurge in Homicides in Mexico," CID Working Papers 229, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cid:wpfacu:229
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    File URL: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/cid/files/publications/faculty-working-papers/229_Rodriguez-Oreggia_WaronDrugsEffectsMexico.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Miguel Flores & Eduardo Rodriguez-Oreggia, 2014. "Spillover Effects on Homicides across Mexican Municipalities: A Spatial Regime Model Approach," The Review of Regional Studies, Southern Regional Science Association, vol. 44(3), pages 241-262, Winter.
    2. René Cabral & André Varella Mollick & Eduardo Saucedo, 2016. "Violence in Mexico and its effects on labor productivity," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 56(2), pages 317-339, March.
    3. 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.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Homicides; Inequality; Drugs; Army Intervention;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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