Citation

Scorcu AE, Cellini R. Int. Rev. Law Econ. 1998; 18(3): 279-292.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0144-8188(98)00011-8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The paper analyzes the economic determinants of crime rates in Italy over the period 1951 to 1994. We show that cointegrating relationships connect the long-run equilibrium levels of crime rates to economic factors in the presence of endogenously determined structural breaks. The long-run pattern of homicides and robberies can be better explained by consumption, whereas thefts are better explained by unemployment.