Citation

Miguel E. Rev. Econ. Stud. 2005; 72(4): 1153-1172.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/0034-6527.00365

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study uses rainfall variation to estimate the impact of income shocks on murder in rural Tanzania. Extreme rainfall (drought or flood) leads to a large increase in the murder of 'witches'--typically elderly women killed by relatives--but not other murders. The findings provide novel evidence on the role of income shocks in causing violent crime, and religious violence in particular.