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Crime in India: specification and estimation of violent crime index

Author

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  • Kausik Chaudhuri
  • Payel Chowdhury
  • Subal Kumbhakar

Abstract

This paper addresses several important issues related to crime. First, we construct a violent crime index taking into account seven different types of crimes. We use an aggregator function to define a crime index that attaches crime-specific weights which can be interpreted as severity of each crime. These weights are estimated econometrically along with other parameters in the model thereby avoiding the problems associated with equally or arbitrary weighted aggregate crime index. Second, we utilize the aggregate crime index function to determine the impact of socio-economic variables on the overall (aggregated) crime, and further decompose them into crime-specific components. Third, in specifying the crime index we allow the possibility that crimes may be underreported and estimate crime underreporting using the stochastic frontier modeling approach. We use district level data from India for the census years 1981, 1991 and 2001. Our results fail to support the equally weighted crime index model and provide evidence of substantial underreporting. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Kausik Chaudhuri & Payel Chowdhury & Subal Kumbhakar, 2015. "Crime in India: specification and estimation of violent crime index," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 13-28, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jproda:v:43:y:2015:i:1:p:13-28
    DOI: 10.1007/s11123-014-0398-7
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    1. Meena Badade & T. V. Ramanathan, 2022. "Probabilistic Frontier Regression Models for Count Type Output Data," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 20(1), pages 235-260, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Crime index; Underreporting; Aggregator function; C33; K42; O53;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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