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Education and crime: evidence from Italian regions

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  • Paolo Buonanno

    (Department of Economics, University of Bergamo)

  • Leone Leonida

    (Department of Economics, Queen Mary University of London)

Abstract

This paper studies the impact of education on criminal activity in Italy. We propose a theoretical framework to determine the effects of education and past incidence of crime on criminal activity, and we test its predictions using annual data for the twenty Italian regions over the period 1980-1995. The results show that education is negatively correlated with delinquency and that crime rates display persistence over time. Our results are robust to model specifications and endogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Buonanno & Leone Leonida, 2005. "Education and crime: evidence from Italian regions," Working Papers (-2012) 0503, University of Bergamo, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:brg:wpaper:0503
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Crime; Education; Panel Data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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