IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v13y2024i11p1886-d1518538.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Complex Association Between Urban Built Environment, Sociodemographic Characteristics and Crime: Evidence from Washington, D.C

Author

Listed:
  • Kaixin Liu

    (The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China)

  • Longhao Zhang

    (The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China)

  • Shangen Tsou

    (The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China)

  • Lei Wang

    (The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China)

  • Yike Hu

    (The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China)

  • Ke Yang

    (The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
    School of Architecture and Planning, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China)

Abstract

The urban built environment and sociodemographic characteristics have complex relationships with urban crime. However, previous studies have had limitations such as generalizing urban green space types, urban functionality, and sociodemographic characteristics. Given these, this study aimed to explore the relationship between them using more detailed indicators. The study utilized Google Street View and points of interest to depict the built environment. Building on previous work that segmented natural and artificial elements in streetscape images, this study further distinguished trees, bush, and grass. Additionally, it incorporated data from the Data Analysis and Visualization Unit of the DC Office of Planning to reflect a broader range of individual characteristics. Weighted least squares regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used to test the relationship between the built environment, sociodemographic, and crime, respectively. Some of the key findings are as follows. (1) Trees, bushes, and grass all reduce crime. (2) Urban functionality is hard to curb crime by enhancing informal public surveillance. (3) Among the sociodemographic variables, the walking commute rate is the variable most strongly positively correlated with crime. (4) Family relationships play an important role in suppressing crime. This study examined a more comprehensive range of indicators affecting urban crime in favor of safer cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaixin Liu & Longhao Zhang & Shangen Tsou & Lei Wang & Yike Hu & Ke Yang, 2024. "Exploring the Complex Association Between Urban Built Environment, Sociodemographic Characteristics and Crime: Evidence from Washington, D.C," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:11:p:1886-:d:1518538
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1886/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1886/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Young-Jae Kim & Eun Jung Kim, 2020. "Neighborhood Greenery as a Predictor of Outdoor Crimes between Low and High Income Neighborhoods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Viniece Jennings & Omoshalewa Bamkole, 2019. "The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Edward L. Glaeser & Bruce Sacerdote, 1999. "Why Is There More Crime in Cities?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(S6), pages 225-258, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Entorf, Horst & Spengler, Hannes, 2000. "Socioeconomic and demographic factors of crime in Germany: Evidence from panel data of the German states," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 75-106, March.
    2. Imrohoroglu, Ayse & Merlo, Antonio & Rupert, Peter, 2000. "On the Political Economy of Income Redistribution and Crime," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 41(1), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Milo Bianchi & Paolo Buonanno & Paolo Pinotti, 2012. "Do Immigrants Cause Crime?," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 10(6), pages 1318-1347, December.
    4. Hunt, Jennifer, 2004. "Trust and Bribery: The Role of the Quid Pro Quo and the Link With Crime," CEPR Discussion Papers 4567, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Abdul Munasib & Genti Kostandini & Jeffrey L. Jordan, 2018. "Impact of the Stand Your Ground law on gun deaths: evidence of a rural urban dichotomy," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 527-554, June.
    6. David R. Bowes, 2007. "A Two-Stage Model of the Simultaneous Relationship Between Retail Development and Crime," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 21(1), pages 79-90, February.
    7. Nora Libertun de Duren & Roberto Guerrero Compeán, 2016. "Growing resources for growing cities: Density and the cost of municipal public services in Latin America," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(14), pages 3082-3107, November.
    8. S. Brent Jackson & Kathryn T. Stevenson & Lincoln R. Larson & M. Nils Peterson & Erin Seekamp, 2021. "Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents’ Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Carozzi, Felipe & Roth, Sefi, 2023. "Dirty density: Air quality and the density of American cities," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    10. Jordan, Jeffrey L. & Anil, Bulent & Munasib, Abdul, 2010. "Community Development and Local Social Capital," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 42(1), pages 143-159, February.
    11. Guerino Ardizzi & Carmelo Petraglia & Massimiliano Piacenza & Gilberto Turati, 2014. "Measuring the Underground Economy with the Currency Demand Approach: A Reinterpretation of the Methodology, With an Application to Italy," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 60(4), pages 747-772, December.
    12. Gerardi Kristopher & Willen Paul, 2009. "Subprime Mortgages, Foreclosures, and Urban Neighborhoods," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 9(3), pages 1-37, March.
    13. Carl Gaigné & Jacques-François Thisse, 2013. "New Economic Geography and the City," Working Papers SMART 13-02, INRAE UMR SMART.
    14. Shi Chen & Yi Sun & Bo Kyong Seo, 2022. "The Effects of Public Open Space on Older People’s Well-Being: From Neighborhood Social Cohesion to Place Dependence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, December.
    15. Montolio, Daniel & Planells-Struse, Simón, 2015. "When police patrols matter. The effect of police proximity on citizens’ crime risk perception," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 73-93.
    16. Edward L. Glaeser, 1998. "Are Cities Dying?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 12(2), pages 139-160, Spring.
    17. Gomes, Fábio Augusto Reis & Paz, Lourenço Senne, 2008. "The Determinants of Criminal Victimization in São Paulo State, Brazil," Brazilian Review of Econometrics, Sociedade Brasileira de Econometria - SBE, vol. 28(2), November.
    18. Demombynes, Gabriel & Ozler, Berk, 2005. "Crime and local inequality in South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 265-292, April.
    19. Gerdes, Christer & Wadensjö, Eskil, 2008. "The Impact of Immigration on Election Outcomes in Danish Municipalities," IZA Discussion Papers 3586, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    20. McCrary, Justin & Lee, David S., 2009. "The Deterrence Effect of Prison: Dynamic Theory and Evidence," Berkeley Olin Program in Law & Economics, Working Paper Series qt2gh1r30h, Berkeley Olin Program in Law & Economics.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:11:p:1886-:d:1518538. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.