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Neighborhood Crime and Young Males' Job Opportunity

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  • Ihlanfeldt, Keith R

Abstract

A puzzling aspect of America's crime problem is the concentration of crime in poor, inner-city neighborhoods. The economic model of crime suggests that this concentration may be caused by a dearth of legitimate earnings opportunities for young males living in these neighborhoods. While studies on spatial mismatch in the low-skilled labor market have documented the relatively poor job opportunity possessed by youth in these neighborhoods, there exists no evidence on the role job opportunity plays in explaining the dramatic spatial variation in crime within urban areas. Using a unique panel of neighborhood crime and employment data for Atlanta, I estimate models that control for time and fixed effects, as well as the possible endogeneity of job opportunity. The results suggest that young males' job opportunity plays a key role in resolving the enigma surrounding the high variation in crime across urban neighborhoods.

Suggested Citation

  • Ihlanfeldt, Keith R, 2006. "Neighborhood Crime and Young Males' Job Opportunity," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 49(1), pages 249-283, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:y:2006:v:49:i:1:p:249-83
    DOI: 10.1086/504056
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Corman, Hope & Dave, Dhaval M. & Reichman, Nancy E., 2014. "Effects of welfare reform on women's crime," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-14.
    2. Gaigné, Carl & Zenou, Yves, 2015. "Agglomeration, city size and crime," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 62-82.
    3. Zenou, Yves & Patacchini, Eleonora, 2007. "Ethnicity and Spatial Externalities in Crime," CEPR Discussion Papers 6130, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Nikhil Jha & Cain Polidano, 2016. "Vocational Education and Training: A Pathway to the Straight and Narrow," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2016n21, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    5. Helen Tauchen, 2010. "Estimating the Supply of Crime: Recent Advances," Chapters, in: Bruce L. Benson & Paul R. Zimmerman (ed.), Handbook on the Economics of Crime, chapter 2, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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