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Danger zone: Land use and the geography of neighborhood crime

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  • Twinam, Tate

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of residential density and mixed land use on crime using a high-resolution dataset from Chicago over the period 2008–2013. I employ a novel instrumental variable strategy based on the city’s 1923 zoning code. I find that commercial uses lead to more street crime in their immediate vicinity, particularly in more walkable neighborhoods. However, this effect is strongly offset by population density; dense mixed-use areas are safer than typical residential areas. Additionally, much of the commercial effect is driven by liquor stores and late-hour bars. I discuss the implications for zoning policy.

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  • Twinam, Tate, 2017. "Danger zone: Land use and the geography of neighborhood crime," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 104-119.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:100:y:2017:i:c:p:104-119
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2017.05.006
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    2. Daniela Cueva & Pablo Cabrera-Barona, 2024. "Spatial, Temporal, and Explanatory Analyses of Urban Crime," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 611-629, September.
    3. Nelly Exbrayat & Victor Stephane, 2024. "Does Urbanization Cause Crime? Evidence from Rural-Urban Migration in South Africa," Working Papers 2401, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    4. Alba Miñano-Mañero, 2024. "When are D-graded neighborhoods not degraded? Greening the legacy of redlining," Working Papers REM 2024/0353, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    5. Laila Ait Bihi Ouali & Daniel J. Graham & Alexander Barron & Mark Trompet, 2020. "Gender differences in the perception of safety in public transport," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 183(3), pages 737-769, June.
    6. Jelnov, Pavel, 2021. "Sunset Long Shadows: Time, Crime, and Perception of Change," IZA Discussion Papers 14770, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Mitre-Becerril, David & MacDonald, John M., 2024. "Does urban development influence crime? Evidence from Philadelphia’s new zoning regulations," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    8. Mohammad Paydar & Asal Kamani Fard, 2021. "The Contribution of Mobile Apps to the Improvement of Walking/Cycling Behavior Considering the Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    9. Steinberg, Matthew P. & Ukert, Benjamin & MacDonald, John M., 2019. "Schools as places of crime? Evidence from closing chronically underperforming schools," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 125-140.
    10. Grimaldi, Michele & Coppola, Francesca & Fasolino, Isidoro, 2023. "A crime risk-based approach for urban planning. A methodological proposal," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    11. Patrik Silva & Lin Li, 2020. "Urban Crime Occurrences in Association with Built Environment Characteristics: An African Case with Implications for Urban Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Crime; Land use; Zoning; Instrumental variables; Matching;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • R52 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Land Use and Other Regulations

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