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Determinants Of Crime Across Conflict And Non-Conflict States In India

Author

Listed:
  • Sofia Amaral

    (University of Birmingham, UK.)

  • Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay

    (University of Birmingham, UK.
    FTAM, USA)

  • Rudra Sensarma

    (Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode)

Abstract

The paper has two main goals. First, using district level panel data we examine the key determinants of violent crime, non-violent crimes and crime against women in India for the period 1990-2007. Second, using the district level variation in Maoist conflict, we examine how conflict affects both crime as well as the roles of various determinants of crime. In addition to looking at the conventional determinants of crime (law enforcement and economic variables), we examine how variation in sex ratios affects crime. We also look at whether the gender of the chief political decision maker in each state (i.e. the Chief Minister) affects crime. We find that improvements in arrest rate decrease the incidence of all types of crimes. Socio-economic variables have relatively little explanatory power. We also find evidence that unbalanced sex ratios, in particular in rural areas, may adversely affect crime. Female political representation with greater decision-making power particularly diminishes violent crime and crime against women. Finally, we find a counter-intuitive result that in districts affected by the Maoist insurgency, all types of crime are lower and we offer explanations for why that may be the case.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Amaral & Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay & Rudra Sensarma, 2014. "Determinants Of Crime Across Conflict And Non-Conflict States In India," Working papers 146, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode.
    • Handle: RePEc:iik:wpaper:146
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Borooah, Vani, 2008. "Deprivation, Violence, and Conflict: An Analysis of Naxalite Activity in the Districts of India," MPRA Paper 19425, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    4. Anjali Thomas Bohlken & Ernest John Sergenti, 2010. "Economic growth and ethnic violence: An empirical investigation of Hindu—Muslim riots in India," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 47(5), pages 589-600, September.
    5. Dutta, Mousumi & Husain, Zakir, 2009. "Determinants of crime rates: Crime Deterrence and Growth in post-liberalized India," MPRA Paper 14478, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Devash Kapur, Kishore Gawande, Shanker Satyanath, 2012. "Renewable Resource Shocks and Conflict in India’s Maoist Belt," Working Papers 302, Center for Global Development.
    7. Lakshmi Iyer, 2009. "The Bloody Millennium: Internal Conflict in South Asia," Harvard Business School Working Papers 09-086, Harvard Business School.
    8. Demombynes, Gabriel & Ozler, Berk, 2005. "Crime and local inequality in South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 265-292, April.
    9. Gomes, Joseph Flavian, 2015. "The Political Economy of the Maoist Conflict in India: An Empirical Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 96-123.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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