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How much should we trust crime statistics? A comparison between EU and US

Author

Listed:
  • Paolo Buonanno

    (UniBg - Università degli Studi di Bergamo = University of Bergamo)

  • Francesco Drago

    (UniMe - Università degli Studi di Messina = University of Messina, CEPR - Center for Economic Policy Research)

  • Roberto Galbiati

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Pietro Vertova

    (UniBg - Università degli Studi di Bergamo = University of Bergamo)

Abstract

We discuss measurement issues in crime rates in a cross-country comparative perspective. We show that while homicide and general crime rates follow quite similar patterns in the US this is not always the case in Europe. We provide an explanation of the observed patterns based on the use of fire harms.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Buonanno & Francesco Drago & Roberto Galbiati & Pietro Vertova, 2018. "How much should we trust crime statistics? A comparison between EU and US," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03918177, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:spmain:hal-03918177
    DOI: 10.1007/s10657-017-9555-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steven D. Levitt, 1996. "The Effect of Prison Population Size on Crime Rates: Evidence from Prison Overcrowding Litigation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 111(2), pages 319-351.
    2. Fajnzylber, Pablo & Lederman, Daniel & Loayza, Norman, 2002. "What causes violent crime?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(7), pages 1323-1357, July.
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    4. Eric D. Gould & Bruce A. Weinberg & David B. Mustard, 2002. "Crime Rates And Local Labor Market Opportunities In The United States: 1979-1997," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 84(1), pages 45-61, February.
    5. Ziggy MacDonald, 2002. "Official Crime Statistics: Their Use and Interpretation," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(477), pages 85-106, February.
    6. Cook, Philip J. & Ludwig, Jens, 2006. "The social costs of gun ownership," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(1-2), pages 379-391, January.
    7. Soares, Rodrigo R, 2004. "Crime Reporting as a Measure of Institutional Development," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 52(4), pages 851-871, July.
    8. Isaac Ehrlich, 1996. "Crime, Punishment, and the Market for Offenses," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 10(1), pages 43-67, Winter.
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    Cited by:

    1. Scognamiglio, Annalisa, 2018. "When the mafia comes to town," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 573-590.
    2. Caruso, Raul, 2014. "What is the relationship between unemployment and rape? Evidence from a panel of European regions," MPRA Paper 54725, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Deiana, Claudio & Geraci, Andrea, 2021. "Are wind turbines a mafia windfall? The unintended consequences of green incentives," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Paolo Buonanno & Leopoldo Fergusson & Juan Fernando Vargas, 2014. "The crime kuznets curve," Borradores de Investigación 11043, Universidad del Rosario.
    5. Giovanni B. Ramello & Alain Marciano, 2018. "Cesare Beccaria: back to the future of law and economics," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 271-274, December.
    6. Francesca Calamunci & Francesco Drago, 2020. "The Economic Impact of Organized Crime Infiltration in the Legal Economy: Evidence from the Judicial Administration of Organized Crime Firms," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 6(2), pages 275-297, July.
    7. Alexi Thompson & James J. Jozefowicz, 2024. "Euro switch, economic growth, and property crimes in Europe," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 343-362, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Crime statistics; Criminal behaviour;

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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