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Local Crime and Prosocial Attitudes : Evidence from Charitable Donations

Author

Listed:
  • Perroni, Carlo

    (University of Warwick)

  • Scharf, Kimberley

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Smith, Sarah

    (University of Bristol)

  • Talavera, Oleksandr

    (University of Birmingham)

  • Vi, Linh

    (Aston University)

Abstract

Combining longitudinal postcode-level data on charitable donations made through a UK giving portal with publicly available data on local crime and neighborhood characteristics, we study the relationship between local crime and local residents’ charitable giving and we investigate the possible mechanisms underlying this relationship. An increase in local crime corresponds to a sizeable increase in the overall size of unscheduled charitable donations. This effect is mainly driven by the responses of female and gender unclassified donors. Donation responses also reflect postcode variation in socio-economic characteristics, levels of mental health, and political leanings, but mainly so for female and gender-unidentified donors.

Suggested Citation

  • Perroni, Carlo & Scharf, Kimberley & Smith, Sarah & Talavera, Oleksandr & Vi, Linh, 2024. "Local Crime and Prosocial Attitudes : Evidence from Charitable Donations," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1493, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:1493
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Charitable Donations ; Prosocial Behavior ; Crime JEL Codes: H41 ; D64 ; D91 ; J15;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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