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Crime and Mental Wellbeing

Author

Listed:
  • Cornaglia, Francesca

    (Queen Mary, University of London)

  • Feldman, Naomi E.

    (Hebrew University, Jerusalem)

  • Leigh, Andrew

    (Parliament of Australia)

Abstract

We provide empirical evidence of crime's impact on the mental wellbeing of both victims and non-victims. We differentiate between the direct impact to victims and the indirect impact to society due to the fear of crime. The results show a decrease in mental wellbeing after violent crime victimization and that the violent crime rate has a negative impact on mental wellbeing of non-victims. Property crime victimization and property crime rates show no such comparable impact. Finally, we estimate that society-wide compensation due to increasing the crime rate by one victim is about 80 times more than the direct impact on the victim.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornaglia, Francesca & Feldman, Naomi E. & Leigh, Andrew, 2014. "Crime and Mental Wellbeing," IZA Discussion Papers 8014, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    neighbourhood effects; mental wellbeing; crime; non-victims;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • R28 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Government Policy

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