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The role of public security reforms on violent crime dynamics

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  • Souza, Danilo
  • Maciel, Mateus

Abstract

In the context of increasing violence, public security reforms are commonly advocated as a solution to the problem despite the lack of empirical evidence. We address this question by evaluating the effect of the Pacto pela Vida program, a comprehensive reform on the public security of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. We document a reduction of 16 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants following the program implementation. We show that a reduction in crimes occurring on the streets and associated with young males and firearm availability are likely to have contributed to the program’s effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Souza, Danilo & Maciel, Mateus, 2024. "The role of public security reforms on violent crime dynamics," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:241:y:2024:i:c:s0165176524003094
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111825
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    3. Emily Owens & Bocar Ba, 2021. "The Economics of Policing and Public Safety," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 35(4), pages 3-28, Fall.
    4. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
    5. Mark Gius, 2020. "Using the synthetic control method to determine the effects of firearm seizure laws on state-level murder rates," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(21), pages 1754-1758, December.
    6. Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C. & Zhao, Jun, 2020. "Doubly robust difference-in-differences estimators," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 219(1), pages 101-122.
    7. Barros, Fernando & Delalibera, Bruno R. & Neto, Valdemar Pinho & Rodrigues, Victor, 2022. "Bonus for firearms seizures and police performance," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Crime; Reform; Policy evaluation; Brazil;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H76 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Other Expenditure Categories
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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