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Patterns of Crime Victimization in Latin America

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  • Gaviria, Alejandro
  • Pagés, Carmen

Abstract

In this paper we draw a profile of the victims of crime in Latin America. We show that- at least for the case of property crime - the typical victims of crime in Latin America come from rich and middle class households and tend to live in larger cities. We also show that households living in cities experiencing rapid population growth are more likely to be victimized than households living in cities with stable populations. We offer various explanations to these facts, and while we cannot yet provide definite answers to some of the questions raised by this paper, we are at least able to reject some plausible hypotheses. On the whole, our results imply that urban crime in Latin America is, to an important extent, a reflection of the inability of many cities in the region to keep up with the increasing demands for public safety brought about by a hasty and disorderly urbanization process.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaviria, Alejandro & Pagés, Carmen, 1999. "Patterns of Crime Victimization in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 1102, Inter-American Development Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:1102
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gary S. Becker, 1974. "Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach," NBER Chapters, in: Essays in the Economics of Crime and Punishment, pages 1-54, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Julie Berry Cullen & Steven D. Levitt, 1999. "Crime, Urban Flight, And The Consequences For Cities," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 81(2), pages 159-169, May.
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    5. Gaviria, Alejandro, 1998. "Increasing Returns and the Evolution of Violent Crime: The Case of Columbia," University of California at San Diego, Economics Working Paper Series qt6x42726z, Department of Economics, UC San Diego.
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    7. Ehrlich, Isaac, 1973. "Participation in Illegitimate Activities: A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 81(3), pages 521-565, May-June.
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    Cited by:

    1. José Raimundo Carvalho & Sylvia Cristina Lavor, 2008. "Repeat criminal victimization and income inequality In Brazil," Anais do XXXVI Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 36th Brazilian Economics Meeting] 200807180945460, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pós-Graduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics].
    2. Alejandro Gaviria, 2001. "Reacción de los hogares a las sacudidas adversas del ingreso en América Latina," Research Department Publications 4274, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    3. Alejandro Gaviria & Carlos Medina & Leonardo Morales & Jairo Núñez, 2010. "The Cost of Avoiding Crime: The Case of Bogotá," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Crime: Lessons For and From Latin America, pages 101-132, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Godoy, Lorena & Arriagada, Irma, 2000. "Prevention or repression? The false dilemma of citizen security," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.
    5. Gaviria Alejandro, 2002. "Household Responses to Adverse Income Shocks in Latin America," Revista Desarrollo y Sociedad, Universidad de los Andes,Facultad de Economía, CEDE, March.
    6. Marcel Fafchamps & Bart Minten, 2004. "Insecurity and welfare," CSAE Working Paper Series 2004-31, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    7. Rafael Di Tella & Sebastian Galiani & Ernesto Schargrodsky, 2010. "Crime Distribution and Victim Behavior during a Crime Wave," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Crime: Lessons For and From Latin America, pages 175-204, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Mamadou Camara & Pierre Salama, 2004. "Homicidios en América del Sur: ¿los pobres son peligrosos?," Revista de Economía Institucional, Universidad Externado de Colombia - Facultad de Economía, vol. 6(10), pages 159-181, January-J.
    9. Jere R. Behrman & Alejandro Gaviria & Miguel Székely, 2002. "Social Exclusion in Latin America: Introduction and Overview," Research Department Publications 3141, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    10. Mimmi, Luisa M. & Ecer, Sencer, 2010. "An econometric study of illegal electricity connections in the urban favelas of Belo Horizonte, Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 5081-5097, September.
    11. Pablo Cadena-Urzúa & Álvaro Briz-Redón & Francisco Montes, 2022. "Crime Analysis of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile: A Spatial Panel Data Approach," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-12, September.
    12. Stefan Dercon (QEH), Tessa Bold, Cesar Calvo, "undated". "Insurance for the Poor?," QEH Working Papers qehwps125, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    13. Mamadou Camara & Pierre Salama, 2003. "Homicides en Amérique du Sud : les pauvres sont-ils dangereux ?," Revue Tiers Monde, Programme National Persée, vol. 44(174), pages 393-416.
    14. Di Tella, Rafael & MacCulloch, Robert & Ñopo, Hugo R., 2008. "Happiness and Beliefs in Criminal Environments," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 1489, Inter-American Development Bank.
    15. World Bank, 2004. "Honduras : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 2. Main Report," World Bank Publications - Reports 14556, The World Bank Group.
    16. Heather Berkman, 2007. "Social Exclusion and Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean," Research Department Publications 4534, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    17. Fajnzylber, Pablo & Lederman, Daniel & Loayza, Norman, 2002. "What causes violent crime?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(7), pages 1323-1357, July.
    18. Heather Berkman, 2007. "Exclusión social y violencia en América Latina y el Caribe," Research Department Publications 4535, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    19. Heinemann, Alessandra & Verner, Dorte, 2006. "Crime and violence in development : a literature review of Latin America and the Caribbean," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4041, The World Bank.

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